Sacrifice of the chorda tympani nerve during middle ear surgery can lead to resolution of dysgeusia

This is a prospective study that looks into the prevalence of chorda tympani nerve (CTN) injury and related symptoms following varying degrees of trauma to the nerve during three common types of middle-ear operation: myringoplasty, tympanotomy and mastoidectomy. The number of patients with CTN-related symptoms varied widely between the three groups. Increased occurrence of the nerve related symptoms and a prolonged recovery time were observed in the tympanotomy group. Stretching of the nerve produced more symptomatic cases than cutting it in the myringoplasty and mastoidectomy groups. Recovery was complete in 92 per cent of the symptomatic patients by 12 months. It is important to inform patients about the possibility of CTN injury during middle-ear operations, and it should also be emphasized that symptoms related to CTN injury can occur irrespective of the type of damage to the nerve.

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Regeneration of the Chorda Tympani Nerve and Fungiform Papillae after Middle Ear Surgery

Practica Oto-Rhino-Laryngologica ◽

10.5631/jibirin.100.867 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 100 (11) ◽

pp. 867-876

Author(s):

Takehisa Saito

Keyword(s):

Middle Ear ◽

Middle Ear Surgery ◽

Chorda Tympani ◽

Chorda Tympani Nerve ◽

Fungiform Papillae ◽

Ear Surgery

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Chorda Tympani Nerve Function After Middle Ear Surgery

Otology & Neurotology ◽

10.1097/01.mao.0000247820.16325.f0 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 28 (3) ◽

pp. 335-340 ◽

Cited By ~ 43

Author(s):

Matthew P. A. Clark ◽

Steve O'Malley

Keyword(s):

Middle Ear ◽

Middle Ear Surgery ◽

Nerve Function ◽

Chorda Tympani ◽

Chorda Tympani Nerve ◽

Ear Surgery

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Gustatory changes in patients with chronic otitis media, before and after middle-ear surgery

The Journal of Laryngology & Otology ◽

10.1017/s0022215112000497 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 126 (5) ◽

pp. 470-474 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

C-C Huang ◽

C-D Lin ◽

C-Y Wang ◽

J-H Chen ◽

Y-T Shiao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Otitis Media ◽

Middle Ear ◽

Chronic Otitis Media ◽

Middle Ear Surgery ◽

Chorda Tympani ◽

Chorda Tympani Nerve ◽

Ear Surgery ◽

Taste Testing ◽

Gustatory Function ◽

Before And After

AbstractObjective:We investigated gustatory changes in patients with chronic otitis media, before and after middle-ear surgery.Methods:This prospective study included 38 patients with unilateral chronic otitis media. We used taste testing solutions to evaluate each patient's taste function. Intra-operative assessments of the chorda tympani nerve were also compared and analysed.Results:Patients with chronic otitis media had significantly worse ipsilateral perception of sour, bitter and salty tastes. In patients with good intra-operative preservation of the chorda tympani nerve, there was significant improvement in gustatory function one month post-operatively, compared with the pre-operative baseline. In patients who sustained intra-operative chorda tympani nerve injury, one month post-operative gustatory function was the same as the pre-operative baseline.Conclusion:Middle-ear surgery for chronic otitis media not only treats the ear but also improves gustatory function in the majority of patients. In patients with intra-operative injury to the chorda tympani nerve, post-operative taste decline is only temporary.

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Evaluation of Taste Disturbance in Pre and Post Mastoid Surgery Patients

Journal of BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences ◽

10.3126/jbpkihs.v2i2.27851 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2 (2) ◽

pp. 4-11

Author(s):

Sriti Manandhar ◽

ST Chettri ◽

DR Kandel

Keyword(s):

Tympanic Membrane ◽

Middle Ear ◽

Analytical Study ◽

Middle Ear Surgery ◽

Chorda Tympani ◽

Chorda Tympani Nerve ◽

Ear Surgery ◽

Taste Disturbance ◽

Duration Of Operation ◽

Mastoid Surgery

Background: Mastoid surgery is one of the commonest surgeries in Otolaryngology & Head & Neck department. Surgeons are less aware of preserving chorda tympani nerve (CT). Injury to the chord tympani nerve is common in middle ear surgery as the course of CT runs between ossicles and close to tympanic membrane. It makes the surgeon difficult to preserve it during the surgery. The study was done to observe frequency of taste disturbances (TD) in all patients undergoing mastoid surgery and to correlate between intra operative status of CT and type of intra operative status of CT injury with postoperative taste disturbances. Methods: A prospective analytical study was conducted in patients who underwent mastoid surgery. The intra operative status of CT was studied, different forms of injury to the nerve were noticed and its impact on taste disturbances was assessed subjectively with questionnaire. The patients with taste disturbances were followed till twelve weeks. Result: None of the patients had taste disturbances prior to surgery. Out of 65 patients, only 15 patients became symptomatic in second postoperative day and the taste disturbances were in the form of altered taste (26.66%), dry mouth (26.66%) and numbness (46.66%). Symptoms like altered taste and numbness were present till the eighth week of surgery and disappeared by the twelfth week except one patient in whom numbness persisted till twelfth week. The symptoms did not correlate with the intra operative status of CT. The symptoms disappeared with duration of operation and it was significant. Conclusion: None of the patients voluntarily complained regarding taste disturbances until they were specifically asked. Only 15 patients had taste disturbances; 7 had numbness, 4 dryness of mouth and 4altered taste. The taste disturbances did not correlate with the type of intra operative status of CT. CT was not identified in 9 patients and only 3 (33.3%) became symptomatic and CT was cut with micro scissors in 26 patients but only 4 (15.38%) patients were symptomatic.

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