Comparison of Tympanic Membrane Perforation With and Without Calcification of Anterior Mallear Ligament Under Transcanal Endoscopic Type I Tympanoplasty.

OBJECTIVES: Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) induced tympanic membrane perforation (TMP) can be accompanied by anterior mallear ligament (AML) calcification. So far, comparative evaluations of TMP with and without AML calcification have rarely been reported. The aim of the current study is to compare the hearing outcomes of TMP with and without calcification of AML under transcanal endoscopic type I tympanoplasty. METHODS: Records of 67 patients diagnosed with CSOM and receiving transcanal endoscopic type I tympanoplasty were divided into the AML calcification group (Cal group, n = 31) and the non-AML calcification group (non-Cal group, n = 36). The 31 patients in the Cal group were divided into subgroup A and B according to the severity of calcification. The operation time, closure rate, and pre- and postoperative audiometric results were retrospectively collected and analyzed. RESULTS: Preoperatively, the Cal group had higher mean air-bone gap (ABG; P = .022), and ABGs at 250 Hz (P = .017) and 500 Hz (P = .008) compared with the non-Cal groups. The Cal group showed higher improvements of ABGs at 250 Hz (P = .039) and 500 Hz (P = .021) compared with the non-Cal groups postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: The TMP with AML calcification leads to higher ABGs at low frequencies. The hearing outcomes are similar for TMP both with and without AML calcification after surgery. Our results suggest that transcanal endoscopic type I tympanoplasty is an appropriate surgical method for TMP with AML calcification, if the lesion can be detected and completely eliminated.

Comparison of endoscopic type I tympanoplasty with and without assistance of customized 3D-printed guiding template for tympanic membrane.

PURPOSE: To compare the anatomical and audiological outcomes of endoscopic type I tympanoplasty using cartilage-perichondrium, with or without a customized 3D-printed guiding template. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 60 patients with tympanic membrane perforation receiving endoscopic type I tympanoplasty were divided into the non-template group (group 1, n = 30) and template group (group 2, n = 30). Closure rate, hearing outcomes and operating time were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Group1 had a significant higher operation time compared with group2 (77.73 ± 10.63 min vs. 66.23 ± 14.92 min, p = 0.001). The overall closure rate of group1 was lower than that of group2 (83.33% vs. 100%, p = 0.052). The postoperative air-bone gaps (ABGs) were significantly lower than preoperative ones in each group (p < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Improvements in hearing outcomes were comparable for the two groups. The applying of customized 3D-printed guiding template resulted in a higher closure rate and a shorter operation time. Our results suggest that the customized 3D-printed guiding template can be recommended as a useful aid for endoscopic type I tympanoplasty.

Endaural Over-Underlay Cartilage Tympanoplasty for Repair of Dry Subtotal Perforations.

OBJECTIVES: We explored the auditory and anatomical success of grafting when the cartilage perichondrium (CP) was prepared using two different methods. METHODS: Patients with subtotal or total perforation underwent tympanoplasty with a CP graft. A V-shaped groove for the handle of the malleus was prepared for CP grafts in patients in group 1. Patients in group 2 did not have a groove on the graft. The anatomical success of the graft was evaluated as success, partial success, or failure. Results of auditory evaluations were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: A total of 195 patients were included in the study. The total CP graft integration rate was 96% for both groups. Significant changes were detected in all hearing criteria evaluated 12 months after surgery compared to the preoperative period (P < .05). There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of the relationship between graft technique and postoperative hearing results. However, rates of partial success were significantly higher for group 1 than group 2 (P = .033). CONCLUSION: Cartilage slice support offers an extremely reliable method for reconstruction of tympanic membrane in cases of high-risk perforation. Partial failures are rare, but when they occur, they most often involved anterior graft medialization. When a piece of cartilage is removed at the malleus interface there may be a higher rate of partial failure.

Is no de-squamatization of the TM reliable for cartilage over-underlay myringoplasty without external auditory canal packing?

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the graft and hearing outcomes of patients with chronic perforations treated via the cartilage-perichondrium over-underlay technique without de-squamatization of the TM and external auditory canal (EAC) packing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-nine patients with chronic perforations and residual tympanic membranes around the perforation margins were treated using the cartilage-perichondrium over-underlay technique without de-squamatization of the TM and EAC packing. Patients were followed-up for 6 months. RESULTS: For all 39 patients with unilateral perforations, the graft success rate was 100% (39/39) at 6 months after surgery. The mean air-bone gap significantly (P < 0.05) improved from 13.41 ± 8.34 dB preoperatively to 7.45 ± 3.81 dB postoperatively in patients with small and medium perforations; the mean air-bone gap significantly improved from 20.57 ± 9.41 dB preoperatively to 9.84 ± 2.41 dB postoperatively in patients with large perforations. The lateral perichondrium gradually became necrotic and crust at postoperative 2-3 months and migrated into the EAC in all patients. CONCLUSIONS: The cartilage-perichondrium over-underlay myringoplasty without de-squamatization of the TM and EAC packing is feasible, affording a high graft success rate and good hearing improvement. The lateral perichondrium may gradually become necrotic and crusted, and migrate along the EAC over time.

Comparison of efficacy of endoscopic versus microscopic transcanal inlay butterfly cartilage myringoplasty.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Butterfly cartilage myringoplasty has been widely practiced over two decades due to its simplicity and feasibility. The present study is aimed to compare the efficacy of endoscopic versus microscopic transcanal inlay butterfly cartilage myringoplasty. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In this randomised control trial, fifty patients with small to medium sized perforation were included. The first group underwent butterfly cartilage myringoplasty using endoscope and the second group using microscope and, outcomes were compared. RESULTS: Graft success rates in the endoscopic group was 96% ±â€¯4% and in the microscopic group was 92% ±â€¯8%. The improvement in the Air-Bone Gap was 11.00 ±â€¯7.21 dB in the endoscopic group and 10.8 ±â€¯7.59 dB in the microscopic group. The difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The overall success rates and hearing outcomes were similar in the endoscopic and microscopic group with added advantages of less pain, shorter operative time and better field of vision in the endoscopic group.

Association Between the Air-Bone Gap and Vibration of the Tympanic Membrane After Myringoplasty.

Air-bone gap (ABG) is an important indicator of hearing status after myringoplasty. A number of factors have been associated with ABG, but some patients still have ABG without identifiable cause. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between tympanic membrane (TM) vibration using laser Doppler vibrometry (LDV) and ABG after myringoplasty. Between January 2013 and January 2015, 24 patients with ABG of unknown cause after myringoplasty were enrolled at the Beijing Tongren Hospital. Thirty normal controls were recruited from the hospital staff. All patients underwent primary overlay myringoplasty. Pre- and postoperative air conduction (AC) and bone-conduction (BC) thresholds, and ABG were measured. Umbo velocity transfer function (UVTF) for vibration of TM was measured with LDV. Air conduction thresholds were significantly reduced after myringoplasty (all P < .05), while BC thresholds were not significantly changed (all P > .05). ABG was significantly reduced after myringoplasty (all P < .05). Air-bone gap was correlated with UVTF at 1.0 kHz (r = -0.46; P = .024). For patients with UVTF >0.08 mm/s/Pa, ABG was correlated with UVTF (r = -0.56; P = .029). For post-myringoplasty ABG without readily observable causes, there was a significant relationship between ABG and TM vibration. These results provide new insights in the understanding of this relationship and may help explain ABG after myringoplasty when there are no clear contributing factors.

The effect of concurrent nasal surgery on the eustachian tube function and myringoplasty outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the Effect of concurrent nasal surgery on the eustachian tube function (ETF) and myringoplasty outcomes for the chronic perforations with coexistent nasal pathology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 93 patients with perforations who underwent same-day myringoplasty and nasal-septal surgery. Group A exhibited septal deviations (n = 34) and Group B inflammatory sinus disease (n = 59). Groups were compared with respect to pre- and postoperative air-bone gaps (ABGs), graft success rates and ETF (Eustachian tube score [ETS] and seven-item Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Questionnaire [ETDQ-7]) at 6 and 24 months. RESULTS: Graft success rates were 100.0% in Group A and 98.3% in Group B at 6 months postoperatively (P = 0.445). Graft success rates were 85.3% in Group A and 96.6% in Group B at 24 months postoperatively (P = 0.046), the re-perforation rate was significantly higher in Group A than in Group B (P = 0.015). Although the preoperative ETS was similar between two groups, the postoperative ETS in the Group B was significantly higher compared with Group A regardless of at postoperative 6th and 24th months. In addition, difference was significant for the patients with positive Valsalva maneuver among two groups at postoperative 24th months. Also, the improvement in the ETDQ-7 score in the B group was significantly higher than that in the A group at postoperative 6th and 24th months. CONCLUSIONS: Concurrent nasal surgery and myringoplasty is feasible. In addition, ESS improves ETF and thus long-term outcomes of myringoplasty for the chronic perforations with inflammatory sinus disease.

Anatomical and Functional Results of Medial and Lateral Surface of Temporal Muscle Fascia in Type 1 Tympanoplasties.

AIM: The aim of this study is to investigate whether there is a difference in the anatomical success of the graft and the functional gain of hearing as a result of the medial or lateral surface application of the temporalis muscle fascia graft. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-three patients who underwent tympanoplasty (myringoplasty) type 1 surgery due to tympanic membrane perforation between December 2017 and December 2019 were included in this study. The gender and age of the patients during this study were determined. Preoperative tympanic membrane perforation types were grouped as central, marginal subtotal, and total. Airway pure tone average threshold values were evaluated preoperatively at 500 Hz, 1000 Hz, 2000 Hz, and 4000 Hz. FINDINGS: Seventy-three patients were included in the study. Medial surface of the temporalis muscle fascia was placed onto the manubrium mallei of the malleus with over-underlay method in group 1 (n = 37) and similarly, lateral surface of the temporalis muscle fascia was placed onto the manubrium mallei of the malleus with over-underlay method in group 2 (n = 36). After tympanoplasty, it was seen that 79.5% of the grafts were intact. Graft success was lower in total perforations than other types; 51.7% of the patients with intact graft were group 1, and there was no significant relationship between graft success and groups. As a result of the assessment made in terms of hearing gain, a statistically significant change was detected in the hearing in the postoperative sixth month compared to the preoperative period in both groups. CONCLUSION: In this study, we demonstrated that there is no difference in terms of the anatomical success of the graft and the functional gain of hearing with type 1 tympanoplasty surgery.

Endoscopic full-thickness cartilage-perichondrium double graft myringoplasty in adhesive perforation: retrospective case series.

BACKGROUND: The adhesive perforation could be the sequela of adhesive otitis media, that partial tympanic membrane remnant is bound completely to the medial wall of the middle ear by fibrous adhesions. However, few studies have reported on the repairing of adhesive perforation. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the long-term outcome of endoscopic full-thickness cartilage-perichondrium double graft myringoplasty for adhesive perforation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In total, 26 patients with unilateral adhesive perforation associated with chronic otitis media who underwent full-thickness cartilage-perichondrium double graft myringoplasty were included. Outcomes were evaluated in terms of the hearing gain and graft success rate at 12 and 24 months. RESULTS: The graft success rate was 96.15% (25/26) at 12 months and 88.46% (23/26) at 24 months. The neovascularization and epithelium covering the lateral surface of the cartilage graft were seen at preoperative 4 weeks, the superficial cartilage graft got complete epithelialization within 4-6 months. CT revealed the well-pneumatized middle ear and mastoid cells at postoperative 24th months in all the patients, no middle ear cholesteatoma formation and keratin pearls were found during the period of follow up. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic full-thickness cartilage-perichondrium double graft myringoplasty without the tympanomeatal flap elevation is a feasible method for repairing adhesive perforations, with a higher graft success rate and satisfactory hearing results.

Acellular Collagen Scaffold With Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor for Repair of Traumatic Tympanic Membrane Perforation in a Rat Model.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of acellular collagen scaffold (ACS) in combination with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) for the repair of traumatic tympanic membrane (TM) perforation in a rat model. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective controlled animal study in a rat model of traumatic TM perforation. SETTING: Tertiary medical center. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats (N = 84) with unilateral traumatic perforation of the right TMs were randomized to receive ACS, bFGF, ACS in combination with bFGF (ACS/bFGF), or nothing (spontaneous healing without any interventions as a control group). The healing outcomes were evaluated by otoscopy, optical coherence tomography, histology, and transmission electron microscopy at 1, 2, and 4 weeks postoperatively. The hearing outcomes were assessed with auditory brainstem response testing. RESULTS: ACS/bFGF resulted in higher perforation closure rates at an earlier stage than spontaneous healing, ACS, and bFGF. Based on histology, optical coherence tomography, and transmission electron microscopy, a trilaminar structure and uniform thickness with mature, densely packed collagen fibers were seen in the ACS/bFGF group. Auditory brainstem response evaluation also showed that ACS/bFGF treatment promoted faster functional hearing recovery as compared with the control group. CONCLUSIONS: ACS is an effective TM scaffold and a carrier for bFGF. ACS/bFGF improves the TM closure rate, results in better-reconstructed TMs, and improves hearing. ACS/bFGF serves as a potential substitute for TM perforations in clinical settings.

Use of Endoscopic Cartilage Graft Myringoplasty Without Tympanomeatal Flap Elevation to Repair Posterior Marginal Perforations.

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the graft success rate and hearing outcomes of endoscopic cartilage graft myringoplasty without tympanomeatal flap elevation used to repair posterior marginal perforations. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective case series. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 31 patients with posterior marginal perforations who underwent endoscopic cartilage graft myringoplasty were included. The outcomes were the hearing gain and graft success rate at 6 and 24 months. RESULTS: The graft success rate was 96.7% (30/31) at 6 months and 90.3% (28/31) at 24 months; 1 patient exhibited composite graft extrusion and lateralization in the region of the anterior annulus; a residual perforation was apparent. Reperforation occurred in 2 patients. The mean preoperative air-bone gap (ABG; 28.61 ± 3.14 dB) was significantly greater than the mean postoperative ABG (12.15 ± 3.98 dB; P < .05) at 6 months; however, there was no statistically significant difference between the post-6 months and post-24 months with regard to ABG values (P = .871), ABG gain (P = 0.648), or functional success rate (P = .472). No significant graft blunting or atelectasis was noted during follow-up. The free perichondrium became fully integrated with the skin of the external auditory canal; the perichondrium could not be clearly distinguished endoscopically 4 to 8 weeks postoperatively. Computed tomography revealed well-pneumatized middle ear and mastoid cavity at postoperative 24 months. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic cartilage graft myringoplasty without tympanomeatal flap elevation reliably repairs posterior marginal perforations. The short- and long-term graft success rate is high, and the hearing results are satisfactory; the technique is minimally invasive.

Displacement of a Total Ossicular Replacement Prosthesis Following Ossicular Chain Reconstruction.

OBJECTIVE: Herein we describe the diagnosis and management of total ossicular replacement prosthesis (TORP) displacement following tympanoplasty with ossicular chain reconstruction (OCR). METHODS: Case report with literature review. RESULTS/CASE: A 40-year-old male with otorrhea and tympanic membrane perforation underwent a right revision tympanoplasty with OCR using a TORP with a tragal chondroperichondrial graft. On postoperative day (POD) 4, he developed vertigo and profound right-sided hearing loss. Temporal bone computed tomography showed the prosthesis in the vestibule. After a steroid taper with mild improvement in symptoms, the TORP was removed two weeks later and the patient continued to improve. CONCLUSION: TORP displacement into the vestibule is a very rare complication following OCR. Conservative management with high dose steroids may improve symptoms, however further middle ear exploration and surgical management may be warranted depending on the depth of displacement into the inner ear as well as symptom severity.

Necessities, opportunities, and challenges for tympanic membrane perforation scaffolding-based bioengineering.

Tympanic membrane (TM) perforation is a global clinical dilemma. It occurs as a consequence of object penetration, blast trauma, barotrauma, and middle ear diseases. TM perforation may lead to otitis media, retraction pockets, cholesteatoma, and conductive deafness. Molecular therapies may not be suitable to treat perforation because there is no underlying tissue matrix to support epithelium bridging. Chronic perforations are usually reconstructed with autologous grafts via surgical myringoplasty. Surgical treatment is uncomfortable for the patients. The grafting materials are not perfect because they produce an opaque membrane, fail in up to 20% of cases, and are suboptimal to restore acoustic function. Millions of patients from developing parts of the world have not got access to surgical grafting due to operational complexities, lack of surgical resources, and high cost. These shortcomings emphasize bioengineering to improve placement options, healing rate, hearing outcomes, and minimize surgical procedures. This review highlights cellular, structural, pathophysiological, and perforation specific determinants that affect healing, acoustic and surgical outcomes; and integrates necessities relevant to bioengineered scaffolds. This study further summarizes scaffolding components, progress in scaffolding strategies and design, and engenders limitations and challenges for optimal bioengineering of chronic perforation.

Comparative study of endoscopic and microscopic tympanoplasty performed by a single experienced surgeon.

PURPOSE: The use of endoscopes in otologic procedures has been increasing worldwide. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of microscopic tympanoplasty (MT) and endoscopic tympanoplasty (ET) for tympanic membrane and middle ear surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 81 patients who underwent MT (n = 44) and ET (n = 37) for chronic otitis media with tympanic membrane perforation performed by a single surgeon between January 2013 and September 2019. The hearing outcomes, graft success rate, complications, operation time and hospital stay, and cost-effectiveness were recorded and compared between groups. Hearing outcomes were determined by pure tone audiometry. Cost-effectiveness was determined by the operation cost and total cost. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the MT and ET groups regarding demographic characteristics, with the exception of the male:female ratio. There was no significant difference in the pre- and postoperative air conduction, bone conduction thresholds, and air-bone gap values between the two groups, but a significant audiologic improvement was observed in both groups (p < 0.05). In terms of recurrence of tympanic membrane perforation, postoperative otorrhea, and discomfort symptoms, there was no significant difference between groups (p > 0.05). The operation time and hospital stay were shorter in the ET group than in the MT group (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in operation cost between the two groups (p > 0.05), but the total cost was significantly lower in the ET group than the MT group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: ET is as safe and medically efficacious as conventional MT, shortens the operation time and hospital stay, and is cost-effective.

A Systematic Review of Nonautologous Graft Materials Used in Human Tympanoplasty.

OBJECTIVES: Nonautologous graft materials may solve several dilemmas in tympanoplasty by obviating the need for graft harvest, facilitating consistent wound healing, and permitting graft placement in the clinical setting. Prior studies of nonautologous grafts in humans have shown variable outcomes. In this systematic review, we aim to 1) summarize clinical outcomes and 2) discuss limitations in the literature regarding nonautologous grafts for tympanoplasty in humans. METHODS: A literature review was performed using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) recommendations. The study size, etiology and duration of perforation, type of nonautologous graft, and postoperative closure rate were assessed. RESULTS: The PRISMA approach yielded 61 articles, including 3,247 ears that met inclusion criteria. Studies evaluated nonautologous grafts including paper patch, gelatin sponge, growth factors, porcine small-intestinal submucosa, among others. Traumatic perforations (62.3%) were most commonly studied, whereas postinfectious perforations (31.9%) and other etiologies (5.8%) comprised a minority of cases. Acute perforations of <8 weeks duration constituted just over half of all treated ears. Overall closure rate was 82.1%, with significantly higher closure rates in acute (89.9%) versus chronic perforations (64.9%, P < .01), regardless of material. A median postoperative air-bone gap of 5.6 dB was found in the 23% of studies reporting this metric. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of publications reviewing nonautologous materials in tympanoplasty evaluate acute or traumatic perforations, and few rigorously report hearing outcomes. Given available data, porcine submucosa and basic fibroblast growth factor may hold promise for chronic perforation closure. Future studies should report closure rates and hearing outcomes in perforations >8 weeks duration. Laryngoscope, 131:392-400, 2021.

Evaluation of Surgical and Audiological Outcomes of Push-Through Myringoplasty and Underlay Cartilage Tympanoplasty in Repairing Anterior Tympanic Membrane Perforations.

INTRODUCTION: Endoscopic push-through myringoplasty (PTM) that could be performed by the endoscopic transcanal approach is a minimally invasive procedure in repairing anterior quadrant perforations of the tympanic membrane. Push-through myringoplasty does not require any skin incision rather than graft harvesting and also does not require tympanomeatal flap elevation. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the current study was to compare the surgical and audiological outcomes of PTM and conventional retroauricular underlay cartilage tympanoplasty (UCT) in the treatment of patients with anterior tympanic membrane (TM) perforation. METHODS: This clinical trial was conducted on total of 71 subjects with anterior TM perforation who underwent PTM (n = 32) and UCT (n = 39). Graft uptake rates, audiological outcomes, duration of surgery (DoS), and complications were analyzed and compared between groups. RESULTS: Graft uptake rates of the PTM and UCT group were 90.6% and 89.7%, respectively (P = 0.512). According to pure tone audiometry measurements at postoperative month 6, the air-bone gap (ABG) values remarkably improved in both PTM and UCT groups without any significant difference (P = 0.654). The average DoS was shorter in the PTM (29.7 ±â€Š5.7 minutes) group relative to the UCT (48.7 ±â€Š11.3 minutes) group, and the difference was extremely significant (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Push-through myringoplasty yielding shorter DoS and fewer postoperative complication and morbidity may serve as an efficient alternative to conventional microscopic UCT in treatment of anterior TM perforations, with comparable graft uptake rates and audiological outcomes.

Endoscopic Cartilage Myringoplasty with Inside Out Elevation of a Tympanomeatal Flap for Repairing Anterior Tympanic Membrane Perforations.

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the graft take rate and hearing gain of endoscopic cartilage myringoplasty with inside out elevation of a tympanomeatal flap for repairing an anterior tympanic membrane perforation. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective case series. SETTING: Tertiary university hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population consisted of patients with an anterior perforation undergoing endoscopic cartilage myringoplasty with inside out elevation of a tympanomeatal flap. The primary outcome was the graft take rate at 6 months. The secondary outcomes were the air-bone gap (ABG) gain at 3 months and complications. RESULTS: A total of 51 patients with a unilateral anterior marginal perforation were included in this study. The mean operation time was 62.2 ± 8.3 minutes. The graft success rate was 92.2% (47/51) at 6 months. The mean preoperative ABG was 28.07 ± 5.13 dB, while the mean postoperative ABG was 12.24 ± 4.89 dB (P < .05). No patients reported sensorineural hearing loss, altered taste, facial nerve palsy, vertigo, or tinnitus. Two patients with a middle perforation developed postoperative purulent otorrhea that resulted in residual perforations. The cartilage graft was extruded into the anterior annulus in two patients with large perforations that resulted in graft lateralization in one patient and residual perforation in the other. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic cartilage myringoplasty with inside out elevation of a tympanomeatal flap is a useful procedure with a low reperforation rate for repairing anterior perforation.

A new method in eardrum perforation repair: Accordion myringoplasty technique.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to describe the accordion myringoplasty technique as a novel method used in the perforation of the eardrum. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included thirty patients operated by utilizing accordion myringoplasty technique. RESULTS: We achieved complete closure of the eardrum perforations with the accordion myringoplasty technique in all patients. CONCLUSION: Accordion myringoplasty technique was inspired by conventional fascial and cartilage myringoplasty techniques to protect hearing while increasing surgical success.

Endoscopic Assessment of the Isthmus Tympanicum and Tensor Tympani Fold and their Relationship with Mastoid Pneumatization in Chronic Otitis Media.

OBJECTIVES: To endoscopically evaluate the patency of the isthmus tympanicum and integrity of the tensor tympani fold as routes of ventilation of the attic and mastoid in chronic otitis media (COM) and to assess their effects on mastoid pneumatization. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty patients with COM were categorized into two groups: (1) Group A: 36 patients with tympanic membrane perforation (2) Group B: 24 patients with limited attic disease of whom 14 patients had attic retraction pockets and 10 with limited attic cholesteatoma. A multislice computed tomography scan of the temporal bone was performed for each patient to assess the degree of mastoid pneumatization. Notably, either myringoplasty or tympanomastoid surgery was performed in all patients. An endoscope was inserted into the middle ear for evaluation of the isthmus tympanicum and tensor fold area. RESULTS: The isthmus tympanicum was patent in most ears (83.3%) of group A, whereas it was blocked in most ears (83.3%) of group B. The tensor fold was complete in 77.8% of ears in group A and 83.3% of ears in group B. It was observed that 94.1% of ears with patent isthmus in both groups had normal mastoid pneumatization and 5.9% of ears had poorly pneumatized mastoid. By contrast, 7.7% of ears with blocked isthmus tympanicum had normal mastoid pneumatization and 92.3% had poor mastoid pneumatization. Normal mastoid pneumatization was observed in 50% of ears in both groups with complete tensor fold, and 83.3% of ears with an incomplete tensor fold. CONCLUSION: A significant correlation was observed between COM with limited attic disease and obstruction of the isthmus tympanicum. Obstruction of isthmus tympanicum was associated with poor mastoid pneumatization. Furthermore, an incomplete tensor fold was associated with well pneumatized mastoid.

The Effect of the Körner's Septum on Graft and Hearing Success after Type 1 Tympanoplasty.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of Körner's septum (KS) on graft success and hearing in patients who were treated with type 1 tympanoplasty. STUDY DESIGN: An observational study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Health Sciences, Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital, Turkey, from July 2013 to July 2018. METHODOLOGY: Patients undergoing type 1 tympanoplasty were divided into 2 groups as patients with KS and without KS (WKS), according to the findings of high-resolution computed tomography of the temporal bone. Two different grafts (fascia and cartilage) in two groups (KS and WKS) were compared for graft success rate of different graft materials and pre- and postoperative hearing levels. The effect of the presence of KS on hearing was examined. RESULTS: The anatomical graft success rate of type 1 tympanoplasty was 75.9% in the KS group and 88.5% in the WKS group (p = 0.026). In the presence of KS, graft success rate decreased with the use of a fascia graft (p = 0.044). In the presence of KS, the use of cartilage graft did not affect functional hearing; whereas, poor functional outcomes were obtained in ears operated using a temporalis fascia graft in the KS group than in the WKS group (p = 0.003). CONCLUSION: KS adversely affects graft success in type 1 tympanoplasty. Cartilage should be preferred as the graft material for patients with KS.