This document summarizes a study assessing taste disturbances after middle ear surgery. The study aims to determine the prevalence of taste disturbances and correlate any disturbances with the degree of chorda tympani nerve (CTN) injury during surgery. 40 patients undergoing middle ear surgery were included. Patients were questioned about taste changes at 7 days, 6 weeks, and 3 months post-op. 15% reported a metallic taste at all follow-ups. 5% reported tongue numbness at 6 weeks. 10% noticed a change in saliva amount. CTN injury was correlated with reported taste loss. The study suggests taste involves multiple nerves and recovery may be due to cross-innervation or compensation over time.

1. Dr Simran Parmar(R1)

2. Title
 Assessment of taste disturbances after middle ear
surgery: A Prospective Study

3. Aims And Objectives
 To assess the prevalence of taste disturbances after
middle ear surgery.
 To correlate the degree of CTN (Chorda tympany
nerve) injury with post operative taste disturbances.

4. Methodology
1. Source of data:
Patient presenting to ENT department o f SKH with
middle ear disease like mucosal and squamosal type of
chronic otitis media and otosclerosis undergoing middle
ear surgery for the same during study period.

5. Methodology
2. Inclusion criteria
Patient diagnosed with middle ear disease like mucosal
and squmosal type of chronic otitis media and
otosclerosis, who will be undergoing surgical treatment
during the study period will be included.
3. Exclusion Criteria:
Patient who are having taste disturbances before middle
ear surgery and revision ear surgery will be excluded

6. Age group
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
0-25 26-50 51-75

7. Patient’s Gender
N-40
16
24
Gender
Male
Female

8. Correlation between intraoperative chorda
tympany nerve injury andt taste disturbances.
Intraoperative chorda
tympany nerve status (N-
40)
Patient
with
complain of
loos of taste
Not touched 6 00
Completely
sectioned
5 5
Streched 4 00
Suctioned 5 00
Manipulated 18 5
Lightly 02 00

9. Qutionnar
e for
patient
Follow up
after 7
days
Follow up
after 6
weeks
Follow up
after 3
months
Do you think your
taste has altered
since your ear
problem started
since your ear
operation?
00(0%) 00 00 00

10. Qutionna
ire for
patient
Follow up
after 7
days
Follow up
after 6
weeks
Follow up
after 3
months
Do you have any
abnormal taste
sensations, such as a
metalic taste?
6 (15%) 6 (15%)
6 (15%) 6 (15%)

11. Qutionnaire
for patient
Follow up after
7 days
Follow up after
6 week
Follow up after
3 months
Do you
have
any
numbn
ess of
the
tongue
00(0%)
2 (5%) 2(5%) 00

12. Qutionnaire
for patient
Follow up after
7 days
Follow up after
6 week
Follow up after
3 months
Do you
experienc
e taste
when
nothing is
there?
00(00%)
00 00 00

13. Qutionnaire
for patient
Follow up
after 7 days
Follow up
after 6 week
Follow up
after 3
months
Has the
amount
of your
saliva
change
d
noticea
bly?
4 (10%) 4(10% ) 4(10%) 4(10%)

14. Correlation between intraoperative status of Jugular
bulb Vs radiological status of Jugular bulb
Intraoperative findings
(Jugular bulb dehiscence)
+ - total
Radiological
Findings(jugular
bulb dehiscence)
+ 00 00 00
- 02 40 42
total 02 40 42

15.  Taste sensation involves not only the CTN but also the
glossopharyngeal nerve supply of the circumvallate
papillae on the posterior tongue, the greater
superficial petrosal nerve supply of the vagal supply in
the throat. Return of normal taste function after injury
could be due to a number of reasons.
 There may be a release of inhibition of the
glossopharyngeal nerve function by the CTN.

16.  Alternatively, there may be cross-innervation fromthe
contralateral CTN.
 CTN recovery is an ongoing process that therefore
requires follow-up to assess fully because of
compensation or regeneration is unclear.