The Complications of Otitis Media: Retrospective Assessment of 51 Cases

Objectives:To determine the complications of otitis media, and to evaluate its diagnosis and treatments.Materials and Methods:In our clinic, between 1993-2002, the charts of 22680 patients diagnosed and treated because of otitis media were reviewed retrospectively and the charts of 51 patients treated due to complications of otitis media were assessed. 22 of 51 patients were female and 29 patients were male whose ages ranged from 5 to 56 years. Data were collected on patient's age and gender, initial symptoms, otoscopic findings, operation findings and treatments. The complications were grouped as intracranial and extracranial.Results:37 patients (%72.5) of 51 patients with complications of otitis media had extracranial complications and 13 patients (%25.4) had intracranial complications and one (%1.9) patient had both intracranial and extracranial complications together. While the most common (%80.3) initial symptom was otorrhea, the most observed otoscopic findings were cholesteatoma and granulation tissue/polyp. Similarly, cholesteatoma and granulation tissue/polyp were the most observed in middle ear cavity and/or mastoid cavity during the operations. We performed radical mastoidectomy and intravenous antibiotic therapy as treatment for complications of otitis media in all patients.Conclusion:Despite current methods of diagnosis and treatment, the careful follow up of patients with otitis media is still important. Their follow up should be done regularly, and they should be well informed about their disease and for probable complications.