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Scientific Oral Presentation

Pediatric Otolaryngology

Benefit of Concurrent Adenoidectomy During Tympanostomy Tube Placement

Sunday, October 18, 2026
4:36 PM - 4:42 PM PT
Location: 409AB

    Presenting Author(s)

  • MV

    Mukta P. Vibhute, BS

    Clinical Research Fellow
    University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
    Jacksonville, FL, United States

    • Co-Author(s)

  • Charles D. Mullins, MD

    Resident Physician
    University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
    Little Rock, AR, United States

  • Adrian Williamson, IV, MD

    Attending Physician
    University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
    Little Rock, Arkansas, United States

    • Senior Author(s)

  • GR

    Gresham T. Richter, MD

    Attending Physician
    University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
    Little Rock, Arkansas, United States

Disclosure(s):
Mukta P. Vibhute, BS:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Adrian Williamson, MD, IV:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Introduction: Tympanostomy tube insertion is among the most common pediatric procedures, yet the role of concurrent adenoidectomy in children aged 0-4 remains controversial. While adenoidectomy is routinely performed in older children, its benefit in younger children is less established. Using a large, multi-institutional database, we evaluated whether concurrent adenoidectomy at the time of tympanostomy is associated with improved postoperative outcomes in children aged 0-4 years.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of children aged 0-4 undergoing tympanostomy with or without adenoidectomy using TriNetX. Propensity score matching (1:1) balanced age, sex, race/ethnicity, and otologic comorbidities. The primary outcome was repeat tympanostomy within 12 months; secondary outcomes included acute otitis media (AOM), otorrhea, tympanic membrane perforation, and cholesteatoma. Risk ratios (RR) and hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals were calculated (p < 0.05).

Results: After matching, 34,925 patients were included per cohort with adequate covariate balance. Concurrent adenoidectomy was associated with a lower risk of repeat tube placement within 12 months (RR 0.74, 95% CI 0.68-0.81; HR 0.74, 95% CI 0.69-0.81; p< 0.0001), as well as lower rates of postoperative AOM and otorrhea. Rates of tympanic membrane perforation and cholesteatoma did not differ meaningfully between groups.

Conclusions: In this national matched cohort study of children aged 0-4 years, concurrent adenoidectomy with tympanostomy tube placement was associated with a lower likelihood of repeat tube placement and reduced postoperative infectious morbidity. These findings provide clearer evidence to guide decisions around adenoidectomy in young children undergoing tympanostomy, a group in whom its benefit has long been debated.