Evaluation of role of Middle Ear Risk Index [MERI] in assessing graft uptake in view of different age groups, a 1-year prospective study

Background: Tympanoplasty surgery is the most common surgery done in patients suffering from Chronic otitis media (COM). Chronic otitis media (COM) is one of the major reasons for hearing loss. To predict the outcome of tympanoplasty in terms of hearing gain related to age, Middle Ear Risk Indices (MERI) Scores can be used to predict the average success in the procedure of the middle ear reconstruction. Aim: The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of Middle Ear Risk Index in predicting postoperative graft uptake in different age groups. Methods: A prospective study was done in the department of Otorhinolaryngology in our department. A total of 65 patients of different age groups above 18 years were included in this study. Patients diagnosed with COM mucosal and squamosal type and underwent Tympanoplasty with or without cortical mastoidectomy for a dry/wet central perforation with conductive hearing loss. The status of graft uptake and post operative PTA was checked postoperatively at 2 and 4 months. Results: Patients with a high Middle Ear Risk Index score and age group of 51-65 years had lower rate of graft uptake. The graft uptake rate was the highest among patients between 18 to 35 years of age. Conclusion: Higher indices of Middle Ear Risk Index and lower age group had good graft uptake rate and better success rate, as compared to older age groups. Thus, ‘age of the patient’ impacts the success rate of tympanoplasty and provides a key factor in prognosis of the disease.