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Objective: A consistent management algorithm for subjective tinnitus remains to be elucidated. Chronic tinnitus yields approximately US$2110 in annual health care costs per patient. However, it is unclear whether spending more in the management of tinnitus equates with greater patient satisfaction. Thus, the aim of this study is to correlate patient satisfaction with patient demographics, provider recommendations, and total health care-related expenditures., Study Design: A retrospective chart review and a patient satisfaction questionnaire., Setting: All data were collected from a large Midwestern hospital., Subjects and Methods: Patients were included who presented to the tinnitus clinic during the year 2011 and were between the ages of 18 and 89 years. They were excluded with diagnoses of Ménière's disease, pulsatile tinnitus, acoustic neuromas, or autoimmune inner ear diseases. The retrospective data and satisfaction surveys were entered by 3 of the authors. Responses were based on Likert scales., Results: Of the 692 patients included, 230 completed and returned the satisfaction questionnaire (33.2% response rate), yielding an overall mean of $662.60 charges. The frequency of intervention recommendations per patients ranged from 0 to 13, with a median of 4. Spearman's correlations did not result in significant correlations between patient satisfaction and number of clinic visits (P=.499) or associated charges (P=.453)., Conclusion: Given that the variability among provider recommendations, the high overall mean of tinnitus-related charges, and patient satisfaction was not related to costs, further research is needed examining patient preference in the treatment of tinnitus., (© American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery Foundation 2015.)

Objectives/hypothesis: To evaluate the indications for observation versus surgery in the management of cotton swab-induced tympanic membrane perforations (TMP)., Study Design: Institutional review board-approved retrospective cohort study of 1,540 patients with a diagnosis of TMP from 2001 to 2010. Patients with a cotton swab injury were subdivided into two groups: observation and surgery., Methods: Data collection included demographics, symptoms, surgery type, and pre- and postintervention audiometry. Successful outcomes were defined as healed TMP; resolution/improvement of vertigo, tinnitus, or facial nerve paralysis; and/or closure of the air-bone gap (ABG)., Results: Fifty-four of 1,540 patients presented with a cotton swab-induced TMP. Four of the 54 patients (7.4%) underwent delayed surgical repair with 100% success. Preoperatively, one patient had a facial nerve paralysis and two had vertigo with confirmed perilymphatic fistulae (PLF). Postoperatively, the facial nerve paralysis resolved, and one patient had mild vertigo. Fifty of 54 patients opted to forego surgery with 35 patients available for follow-up. Thirty-four (97%) of the 35 patients had spontaneous healing. The average time to perforation closure was 1.75 months. Twelve of 35 patients had no ABG after healing., Conclusions: Observation is an appropriate consideration for patients who have a TMP due to a cotton swab injury. Surgical intervention should be offered early when a PLF is suspected, or if facial paralysis, severe vertigo, and/or profound sensorineural hearing loss are present. As otolaryngologists, we should be reluctant to offer surgical intervention of an acute injury without significant symptoms as most patients will heal spontaneously within 2 months., (Copyright © 2012 The American Laryngological, Rhinological, and Otological Society, Inc.)