Myringotomy with versus without grommet tube insertion in chronic serous otitis media with effusion : Southern Oman experience

Objective: Otitis media with effusion (OME) can lead to hearing loss and delayed speech. Adenoidectomy with myringotomy and ventilation tube insertion are used in the management of OME. This study aimed to compare outcomes of myringotomy with versus without grommet tube insertion in children with OME in Southern Oman. Patients and Methods: A prospective randomized study of 74 patients with serous OME, divided into 2 equal groups, was conducted over 2 years. Group A patients underwent adenoidectomy with myringotomy and grommet tube insertion, while only adenoidectomy and myringotomy were performed on patients in group B. Average age, gender, preoperative hearing loss and postoperative hearing gain, tympanometry 9 months after the operation, and incidence of otorrhoea and myringosclerosis were compared. Results: All the parameters showed a nonsignificant statistical difference. Otorrhoea and myringosclerosis incidence was higher in group A, with a significant statistical difference. Conclusion: Myringotomy alone showed favourable results with fewer complications in treatment of serous OME.