Prevalence of Otitis Media in Cleft Palate Patients

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Cleft palate is very common congenital malformation in Korea. It is often accompanied with middle ear disease above all otitis media. Its cause is known as the functional dysfunction of Eustachian tube by the anatomical defects of hard and soft palate. Exudative fluid collection & inflammation is occurred on middle ear whose clearance and protection is inhibited by Eustachian tube blockage. Previous reported otitis media prevalence is various from 40% to 90% depends on regions and human races. MATERIALS & METHODS: For the past 5 years, from Jan. 2001 to Dec. 2005, we had been treated 144 cleft palate patients in Dong-A university medical center. The retrospective study was carried on the base of patient hospital course and operation records. RESULTS: Otitis media prevalence mean value was 73.3 % (211/288 ear), ventilation tube insertion rate was 85.3% (180/211 ear). Prevalence by age was 89.3%, 87.5%, 73.5%, 28.8% along 0-12, 13-24, 25-36, more than 37 months each. Ventilation tube insertion rate by age was 84.7%, 87.7%, 84.0%, 84.2%. Prevalence by cleft palate type was 23.7%, 46.4%, 51.2% along submucosal, incomplete, complete type each. Ventilation tube insertion rate by type was 40.0%, 77.6%, 94.4%. CONCLUSION: The otitis media prevalence was declined as the patients grew old. But the ventilation tube insertion rate had no significant decrease. The prevalence by type was increased as the severity of deformity rise up. And the ventilation tube insertion rate was also increased.