CORRELATION BETWEEN SOFT PALATE LENGTH AND CHRONIC MIDDLE EAR INFLAMMATION

<p>The role of Eustachian tube dysfunction in chronic middle ear inflammation etiopathogenesis is obvious and almost always present. Shorter length of m. tensor velli palatini, the only active opener of the Eustachian tube, is related to tube dysfunction. The aim of the study is to investigate correlation between soft palate length, angle formed between soft and hard palate and chronic middle ear inflammation occurrence. Examinations have been performed on 60 adults. Group A consisted of patients suffering from chronic middle ear inflammation, whereas group B consisted of healthy individuals with respect to their gender and age. Examinations included medical check-up, auditory findings, radiological examinations and craniometrical X- ray measurements performed using lateral head X-ray. Soft palate length and angle formed between soft and hard palate angle were measured. It has been determined that soft palate length (distance from spine nasalis to the top of the uvula) is shorter in patients suffering from chronic middle ear inflammation ( average value for group A= 3,09, SD=0,422, whereas for group B =3,747, SD=0,448). Student test results indicate highly significant difference between examined groups ( value of variable t=6,025). Angle formed between hard and soft palate is higher in group A examinees (average value 138.4, SD=9.379, than in control group (average value 132,17, SD=8.765). Value of the variable t=2,658 indicate the significant differences in values between examined groups. Soft palate in patients suffering from chronic middle ear inflammation is positioned more horizontally and its length is shorter than in control group B. Depth and volume of the nasopharynx is lesser in group A patients. These soft palate dimensions impact soft palate muscular disbalance, mostly m. tensor velli palatini. In dysfunctional tube, medial lamina cartilage rotation is insufficient and muscular movement is minimal. Defining soft palate dimensions and nasopharyngeal morphology Eustachian tube dysfunction can be explained and chronic middle ear inflammation development predicted</p>