Chorda tympani in chronic inflammatory middle ear disease.

OBJECTIVES

To study the effect of chronic inflammatory middle ear disease on gustatory function of chorda tympani nerve.

METHODS

A prospective study was performed on 85 patients having unilateral chronic inflammatory middle ear disease of either cholesteatomatous or noncholesteatomatous type. Gustatory assessment on both sides of the tongue was performed using dry taste strips.

RESULTS

Comparison of mean taste scores on the side of diseased ear vs normal ear was done. On the diseased side the mean taste score was 9.16 and on the normal side the mean taste score was 13.24. The difference between the two was found to be statistically significant (P < 0.0001). The results were also analyzed for various other parameters like type, duration, and location of disease.

CONCLUSION

A patient with chronic inflammatory middle ear disease already has dysfunctional chorda tympani and is unlikely to notice a change in the taste sensation in the event of cutting of the nerve during the course of an ear surgery.