Butterfly cartilage graft inlay tympanoplasty for large perforations

OBJECTIVE: Butterfly graft inlay tympanoplasty is a well-established technique for the repair of small perforations. However, the efficacy of the technique for medium and large tympanic membrane perforations remains unknown. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series. METHODS: Postauricular tympanoplasty and tympanomastoidectomy using a large butterfly cartilage inlay graft (>4 mm diameter to total drum replacement) were analyzed in 90 pediatric patients (99 ears). RESULTS: Patient ages ranged from 2 to 20 years; mean follow-up duration was 27.6 months. Successful closure occurred in 92% of the ears. No graft lateralized nor displaced into the middle ear. No retraction pocket occurred during the follow-up period. In 62 cases, intact canal wall or canal wall window tympanomastoidectomy was performed; Fifty-one (82.2%) of the patients having mastoidectomy procedures had chronic otitis media with cholesteatoma. The mean preoperative to postoperative four-tone air-bone gap improved from 23 to 21 dB; the number of patients with 0 to 10 dB hearing results increased from 16 ears preoperatively to 32 ears postoperatively. Postoperative suboptimal results included eight patients with postoperative perforations in the residual tympanic membrane adjacent to an intact cartilage graft; two of these patients were the only individuals who exhibited otorrhea. CONCLUSIONS: Cartilage butterfly graft inlay tympanoplasty is effective in the vast majority of patients with moderate to large perforations. The closure rate exceeded 90% with no graft displacement, postoperative adverse events were respectably low, and hearing results improved or remained stable despite the need for concurrent mastoidectomy in the majority of patients.     

Loop overlay tympanoplasty for anterior or subtotal perforations

Objective

To report our experience with “loop overlay” tympanoplasty, a modified overlay technique with a superiorly based skin flap, for the reconstruction of anterior, subtotal or total tympanic membrane (TM) perforations.

Methods

Retrospective review of patients undergoing loop overlay tympanoplasty from March 1998 to February 2007 was performed. Four hundred and twenty-nine patients who underwent loop overlay tympanoplasty and then follow-up visits a minimum of 6 months later were included in this study. Hearing test results were reported using a four-frequency (0.5, 1, 2, and 3 kHz) pure tone average air–bone gap. The outcome was considered successful if the TM was intact without lateralization or anterior blunting after the follow-up visit.

Results

There was a 98.8% success rate. There was no graft lateralization, anterior blunting, neocholesteatoma, or sensorineural hearing loss. The mean preoperative to postoperative four-tone air–bone gap improved from 23.5 to 8.1 dB, which is a mean gain of 15 dB; this was statistically significant (p < 0.001, paired sample t-test).

Conclusion

The loop overlay graft method is a safe and effective technique for reconstruction of anterior, subtotal or total TM perforations, with excellent graft take and significant improvement of hearing. It provides a precise replacement of the flap and a preserved healing plane.     

Comparison of clinical outcomes between butterfly inlay cartilage tympanoplasty and conventional underlay cartilage tympanoplasty

Objective

To assess the efficacy of butterfly inlay cartilage tympanoplasty and compare it with conventional underlay cartilage tympanoplasty in terms of success rate and hearing outcomes.

耳内镜下耳屏软骨-软骨膜修补鼓膜大穿孔45例报告

目的探讨在耳内镜下应用耳屏软骨-软骨膜修补鼓膜大穿孔的临床效果,并介绍临床手术要点及技巧。方法对45例耳鼓膜紧张部大穿孔病例,采用自体耳屏软骨-软骨膜,在耳内镜下行I型鼓室成型术,采用内植法一期完成手术。结果 45例患者随访6~18个月,术后无耳鸣加重、无眩晕、气骨导听力下降等。术后3个月复查穿孔愈合率95.6%,术后一年以上复查未见再穿孔、鼓膜内陷、粘连及前部钝角愈合情况,患者诉无听力下降等。术后3~6个月复查纯音测听,患者言语频率气导听力均提高>10dB。其中气骨导差缩小>10dB21例,21dB~30dB19例,>30dB5例。27例行声阻抗检查均为"A"型。患者术耳耳屏外观良好,无明显瘢痕及形态改变。结论耳内镜技术下鼓膜修补术,操作简单、图像清晰、视野广、损伤小、手术时间短,且耳屏软骨-软骨膜取材方便,抗感染能力强,听力恢复效果稳定,是一种较好的鼓膜修补材料,值得临床推广。     

鼓膜上皮皮瓣推移法修补边缘性鼓膜穿孔27例

目的 探讨鼓膜上皮皮瓣推移法修补边缘性鼓膜穿孔的疗效及优点。方法 选择边缘性鼓膜穿孔患者27例, 切除鼓膜穿孔边缘上皮环, 沿穿孔边缘分离鼓膜上皮层与纤维层, 向穿孔中心推移鼓膜上皮层, 使穿孔闭合, 必要时做鼓膜上皮减张切口。结果 一次性鼓膜穿孔修补成功26例, 愈合率96.3%, 随访3～6个月。结论 鼓膜上皮皮瓣推移法修补边缘性鼓膜穿孔, 手术简单, 创伤微小, 疗效可靠。     

Medial or medio-lateral graft tympanoplasty for repair of tympanic membrane perforation

Objective

To describe and evaluate the medio-lateral graft tympanoplasty¹ for the reconstruction of anterior or subtotal tympanic membrane (TM) perforation and medial graft tympanoplasty for posterior TM perforation.

Methods

Retrospective study of 200 patients who underwent medio-lateral graft tympanoplasty (100 cases) and medial graft tympanoplasty (100 cases) at community and tertiary care medical centers from 1995 to 2006. All patients underwent preoperative and postoperative audiograms. In the medial graft tympanoplasty, the graft is placed entirely medial to the remaining TM and malleus. First, margin of TM perforation is denuded removing ring of squamous tissue. Tympanomeatal flap is elevated. Temporalis fascia is harvested, semidried, and grafted medial to the TM perforation and malleus with Gelfoam packing supporting the graft. In the medio-lateral graft technique, posterior tympanomeatal flap is elevated same as in the medial graft tympanoplasty first. Anterior-medial canal skin is elevated down to the annulus. At the annulus only squamous epithelial layer of TM is elevated up to anterior half of the TM perforation. Temporalis fascia is grafted medial to posterior half of the perforation and lateral to anterior half of the de-epithelialized TM perforation up to the annulus. Anterior canal skin is rotated to cover the fascia graft and TM perforation as a second layer closure. Patients were followed for at least six months. Outcome was considered successful if TM is healed and intact.

Results

There were four failures (96% success rate) in medial graft method for posterior TM perforation due to infection and re-perforation. In the medio-lateral graft tympanoplasty, there were three failures (97% success rate) due to a postoperative infection, anterior blunting and recurrent cholesteatoma.

Conclusion

The medial graft tympanoplasty works well for posterior TM perforation. The medio-lateral graft method is an excellent method for the reconstruction of large anterior or subtotal TM perforation. This new method should help otologic surgeons to improve outcome of tympanoplasty for anterior or subtotal TM perforation.     

鼓室成形术后新鼓膜的形态变化与影响因素

目的:探讨鼓室成形术后新鼓膜在不同阶段的形态变化,以及影响其变化的相关因素与对策。方法:对120耳鼓室成形术病例,分别观察术后1～3个月、4～6个月、6～24个月及2年以上的新鼓膜变化情况,分析影响其变化的相关因素,并进行相关处理。结果:术后2周抽出外耳道纱条后见新鼓膜前下边缘出现裂隙4耳;1～3个月再感染穿孔2耳;4～6个月可疑咽鼓管功能不良24耳,功能未恢复4耳;6个月～2年鼓膜萎缩13耳。术后总继发穿孔10耳(8.33％)。结论:新鼓膜前下边缘裂隙是早期鼓膜穿孔的主要表现;鼓室及咽鼓管鼓口粘膜病变严重是新鼓膜穿孔和影响移植物成活的主要原因。咽鼓管导管吹张是改善鼓室通气、提高听力的方法之一。新鼓膜功能及形态多在3个月后趋于稳定。     

Endoscopic cartilage tympanoplasty: full thickness and partial thickness tragal graft

IntroductionCartilage is the grafting material of choice for certain disorders of the middle ear. The indications for its routine use remain controversial due to the possible detrimental effect on post-operative hearing.ObjectiveThe present study was carried out to report a personal experience with “tragal cartilage shield” tympanoplasty to compare the results, in terms of graft uptake and hearing improvement, of endoscopic cartilage shield technique using either partial thickness or full thickness tragal cartilage for type 1 tympanoplasty and to highlight the tips for single-handed endoscopic ear surgery.MethodsFifty patients with safe chronic suppurative otitis media, assisted at out-patient department from February 2014 to September 2015 were selected. They were randomly allocated into two groups, 25 patients were included in group A where a full thickness tragal cartilage was used and 25 patients included in group B where a partial thickness tragal cartilage was used. Audiometry was performed 2 months after the surgery in all cases and the patients were followed for one year.ResultsOut of the total of 50 patients 39 (78%) had a successful graft take up, amongst these 22 belonged to group A and 17 belonged to the group B. The hearing improvement was similar in both groups.ConclusionThis study reveals that endoscopic tragal cartilage shield tympanoplasty is a reliable technique; with a high degree of graft take and good hearing results, irrespective of the thickness. Furthermore, the tragal cartilage is easily accessible, adaptable, resistant to resorption and single-handed endoscopic ear surgery is minimally invasive, sutureless and provides a panoramic view of the middle ear.     

软骨栅-软骨膜鼓膜成形术

目的探讨用自体软骨栅-软骨膜行鼓室成形术的疗效。方法用自体条栅状软骨行鼓室成形术对66耳鼓膜穿孔（面积>50%）的患者进行鼓膜修补,并与同期用颞肌筋膜修补的60耳相同病变进行比较。结果软骨-软骨膜组的近期鼓膜穿孔愈合率为92.4%,颞肌筋膜组为80%。两组的听力结果差异无显著性。结论软骨-软骨膜特别适用于修补鼓膜大穿孔及粘连性中耳炎。条栅状软骨-软骨膜鼓膜成形术是一种很好的修补鼓膜大穿孔的方法。     

Short-term evaluation of over-under myringoplasty technique

Over-under tympanoplasty is a technique aimed at eliminating the disadvantages of the two classical techniques of overlay and underlay myringoplasty, which are employed in repairing the tympanic membrane. In this retrospective study, a total of 104 patients underwent myringoplasty, which was performed by means of the underlay technique in 46 patients and over-under technique in 58 patients. The mean follow-up period was 11 months. In the first group of patients, the underlay technique was performed; the grafted membrane was placed medial to the remaining drum and the manubrium of the malleus. In the second group, the over-under technique was performed; the grafted membrane was placed under the remaining drum and over the malleus. The rate of success in the first group of 46 patients was 91.5%, and that of atelectasis was 19.5%. The rate of success in the second group of 58 patients was 94.9% and 12%, respectively. Lateralization of the graft was not observed in either of the groups. In the patients operated on by means of the underlay technique, the air-bone gap decreased by 16.55 dB this rate was 16.96 dB in those operated on by the over-under technique. The authors consider over-under tympanoplasty to be superior to the other two classical methods not only because of its effectiveness, but also because of the results achieved by this technique.     

全翻内植法鼓膜成形术60例临床分析

目的探讨全翻内植法鼓膜成形术的方法及疗效。方法采用耳后径路,自体颞筋膜作移植材料,对60例鼓膜穿孔病人进行全翻外耳道后壁及残余鼓膜皮瓣内侧植颞筋膜封闭穿孔进行鼓膜成形术,并进行回顾性分析。结果术后3-6个月复查,新鼓膜Ⅰ期愈合55例,56例术后听力均不同程度提高,随访6个月至2年,新鼓膜长期愈合率95%(57/60)。结论本术式具有视野开阔、清晰、取材方便、不受穿孔面积及位置关系影响,穿孔闭合及听力提高率高,具有一定的临床应用价值。     

夹层法鼓膜成形术远期疗效的相关因素探讨

目的 探讨夹层法鼓膜成形术远期疗效的相关影响因素.方法回顾性研究1999年1月至2003年12月北京同仁医院住院行颞肌筋膜夹层法修补鼓膜穿孔的205例(223耳)患者的临床资料,年龄12～65岁,平均34.3岁;病程1个月～25年,平均16.1个月.观察指标包括年龄、性别、病因、病程、干耳时间、手术径路、穿孔部位、穿孔大小、鼓室状况、鼓膜是否有硬化斑.术后随访2年以上用SPSS 12.0软件包进行数据管理、统计方法为Logistic回归.结果 随访2～5年鼓膜愈合212耳,远期鼓膜愈合率为95.1%.其中,鼓膜色泽与形态正常、无其他并发症者186耳,远期手术成功率为83.4%.经多因素Logistic回归分析,依据OR值显示可能影响手术成功的相关因素依次为:穿孔大小(OR=1.900)、病程(OR=1.003)、干耳时间(OR=0.908).对术前纯音测听检查为传导性聋175耳分析显示:术后气骨导差(听力级)的平均值较术前降低7.0dB.结论 鼓膜穿孔越小、病程越短、在一定时间范围内干耳越久,远期发生并发症的可能性越小,对手术成功越有利.鼓膜内陷钙化常为晚期并发症,也是造成修补失败的重要原因之一.     

Homograft sclera in tympanoplasty

Summary Homograft sclera was used as a supporting scafford of the tympanic membrane and reinforcement for the fascia in 43 tympanoplasties.Fresh sclera donated for corneal transplantation to the eye bank in the ophthalmology department of the School of Medicine of Keio University was preserved in 70% alcohol after being stripped of uveal tissue. The sclera was cut as an interdigited method in grafting technique and the short process and the upper part of the manubrium of the malleus were exposed. The fascia was placed lateral to the sclera to cover the exposed mallus.Twenty-four cases have been observed for more than 6 months and ten cases for 3–6 months after surgery. Although the results of the long-term follow-up cannot be judged until after many years, there have been so far no recognizable complications, and it seems quite possible that this technique can reduce the complications as lateral healing and anterior blunting of the fascia alone. The postoperative closure rate of the tympanic membrane was 90% in all the cases except Type IV (two cases).The indications for the use of sclera were discussed.     

Comparison of type I tympanoplasty with acellular dermal allograft and cartilage perichondrium

Abstract

Background: Acellular dermal allograft (AlloDerm) and cartilage perichondrium are two common materials used for repair of tympanic membrane perforations (TMPs). To date, comparative evaluations of their efficacy have rarely been reported.

Aim/objectives: To compare anatomical and audiological outcomes between AlloDerm and cartilage perichondrium in type I tympanoplasty.

Methods: A total of 61 patients of TMP were studied. In total, 27 patients (Group 1) underwent AlloDerm myringoplasty, and the remaining 34 patients (Group 2) underwent perichondrium myringoplasty. Operating time, closure rate and hearing gain were compared between Groups 1 and 2.

Results: Successful closure rates at 6-month follow-up were 88.9% (Group 1) and 82.4% (group 2). The average improvement of air-bone gap (ABG) was 13.5?±?11.8?dB for Group 1 and 13.1?±?13.1?dB for Group 2. The difference in between preoperative and 6 months postoperative ABG values was statistically significant (p?<?.001).

Conclusions and significance: Success rates and improvement of hearing level were similar for the AlloDerm (Group 1) and the cartilage perichondrium (Group 2) groups. However, AlloDerm requires shorter operative time and avoids the incisions in the harvest of allografts. Our results suggest that AlloDerm can be recommended as an attractive alternative to cartilage grafts.     

Surgical outcomes of myringoplasty using platelet-rich plasma and evaluation of the outcome-associated factors

ObjectiveTympanic membrane perforations must be closed with surgery; however, most surgical procedures are considerably invasive in nature. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of minimally invasive myringoplasty using platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and an atelocollagen sponge for closure of chronic tympanic membrane perforations, as well as to identify the factors affecting the surgical outcome.MethodsThe records of 118 patients who underwent surgical closure of chronic tympanic membrane perforation at an ear–nose–throat clinic were reviewed retrospectively. After removing the margin of the perforation via a transcanal approach under local anesthesia, an atelocollagen sponge injected with PRP was inserted into the perforation as a scaffold. If the size of the perforation decreased after the surgery, the same surgical procedure was repeated. The success rate of closure after the last surgery was evaluated in terms of the size of the perforation. In addition, the relationships of the success rate with the cause and duration of perforation and patient age were also examined.ResultsThe perforation was closed after initial or repeat surgeries in 95.8% (68/71) of cases with small-sized perforations, 80.0% (32/40) of cases with middle-sized perforations, and 85.7% (6/7) of cases with large-sized perforations. Multiple surgeries (up to four times) were required for middle- and large-sized perforations, and even for some small-sized perforations. The number of re-operations required for closure significantly increased with increase in the size of the perforation (Kruskal–Wallis test, p < 0.01). The cause and duration of perforation were not predictors of the surgical outcome. However, patient age was a significant predictor of the surgical outcome; patients older than 80 years had a significantly worse success rate than younger patients (Fisher’s exact test, p < 0.01).ConclusionMinimally invasive myringoplasty using PRP has a satisfactory success rate even for large-sized tympanic membrane perforations. PRP is autologous and its use is non-toxic and safe. Although informed consent from the patient is necessary for the repetition of the surgery and for patients older than 80 years, this technique appears to be a promising office-based procedure for closure of chronic tympanic membrane perforations.     

Clinical advantages of cartilage palisades over temporalis fascia in type I tympanoplasty

Objective

To compare the post-operative outcomes in using temporalis fascia and full thickness broad cartilage palisades as graft in type I tympanoplasty.

Methods

This study, conducted at a tertiary referral institute, included 90 consecutive patients with mucosal type chronic otitis media requiring type I tympanoplasty with a 60/30 distribution of cases with fascia and cartilage palisades, respectively. The fascia group consisted of primary cases in adults and excluded revision cases, near-total or total perforations and pediatric cases. The cartilage group included pediatric, revision cases and near-total or total perforations. The fascia group utilized the underlay technique for grafting, whereas the cartilage group used tragal full thickness broad cartilage palisades with perichondrium attached on one side placed in an underlay or over-underlay manner. Post-operative graft take-up and hearing outcomes were evaluated after 6 months and 1 year with subjective assessment and pure tone audiometry.

Results

The graft take-up rate was 83.3% in the fascia group and 90% in the cartilage palisade group. The mean pure tone air–bone gaps pre- and post-operatively in the fascia group were 30.43 ± 5.75 dB and 17.5 ± 6.94 dB, respectively, whereas for the cartilage group, these values were 29 ± 6.21 dB and 7.33 ± 3.88 dB, respectively.

Conclusion

Cartilage grafting with full thickness palisades is more effective than fascia as graft material, particularly in “difficult” tympanoplasties fraught with higher failure rates otherwise.     

Palisade cartilage tympanoplasty for management of subtotal perforations: a comparison with the temporalis fascia technique

The use of cartilage as a grafting material has been advocated in cases at high risk for failure, such as subtotal perforations, adhesive processes, tympanosclerosis and residual defects after primary tympanoplasties. The cartilage palisade technique, in which the TM is fully reconstructed with palisade-shaped cartilage pieces, was first described by Heermann. Cartilage material has been critized because of concerns regarding hearing results, however, large cartilage plates with thicknesses ≤0.5 mm have been suggested as an acceptable comprise and the graft take of this technique has been reported to be excellent. The purpose of this study was to compare the graft take rates and hearing results of primary type I cartilage tympanoplasty operations with palisade technique with those of primary tympanoplasty using temporalis fascia in a homogenous group of patients. Study design: retrospective chart review. Setting: tertiary medical center. The study population included 51 patients who were operated between January 2000 and 2006 at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology of Ataturk Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey. Primary tympanoplasty cases with pure subtotal perforations (perforation >50% of the whole TM area), intact ossicular chain, at least more than 1 month dry period and normal middle ear mucosa were included in the study. Palisade cartilage tympanoplasty group included 23 cases, whereas 28 patients were were in the fascia group. Intervention: therapeutic. Graft take rates were noted in 51 patients and pre- and post operative audiograms were compared using the chi-square test with Yates’ continuity correction, Fisher’s exact test, t test and repeated measures ANOVA. Graft take was achieved in 22 patients (95.7%) in palisade cartilage group and in 21 patients (75%) in temporalis fascia group (P = 0.059). Mean speech reception treshold, air–bone gap and pure-tone average scores comparing the gain between both techniques showed no significant changes in the threshold (P > 0.05). However the functional success was achieved with the palisade cartilage technique postoperatively, regarding to mean air–bone gap and speech reception threshold changes. Our experience with palisade cartilage technique demonstrates that subtotal or total perforations at high risk for graft failure, can be treated efficiently and a durable and resistant reconstruction of the TM with reasonable hearing can be achieved. The study was presented as a poster at the Fifth Balkan Congress of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Edirne, Turkey, 7–10 September 2006.     

棉片贴补+外耳道填塞固定治疗干性鼓膜穿孔54例

目的 探讨缩短棉片贴补治疗干性鼓膜穿孔愈合时间的方法。方法 把108例(108耳)干性鼓膜穿孔患者随机分成两组,试验组54例(54耳)采用棉片贴补+外耳道棉花填塞固定治疗法;对照组54例(54耳)仅采用棉片贴补治疗法。比较两组鼓膜穿孔愈合时间的长短。结果 试验组愈合时间为(54.9±13.7)d,对照组愈合时间为(65.2±16.0)d,两组比较差异有统计学意义(t=-3.562,P=0.001)。结论 在棉片贴补治疗干性鼓膜穿孔时,如增加外耳道棉花填塞固定,可显著缩短穿孔的愈合时间。     

Evaluation of inlay butterfly cartilage tympanoplasty: a randomized clinical trial

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: In 1998 Eavey described a new inlay technique for tympanoplasty in the pediatric age group using a cartilage graft through a transcanal approach. This technique was found to be effective and comfortable (no external canal incisions or ear packing). This study evaluated the efficacy of modified-inlay cartilage tympanoplasty compared with the conventional underlay tympanoplasty. STUDY DESIGN: Randomized clinical trial. METHODS: Patients were enrolled from December 1998 to March 2000. Seventy tympanoplasties were done in adults with medium-sized tympanic membrane (TM) perforations: 34 inlay tympanoplasties and 36 underlay tympanoplasties (control group). The main outcome measures were the "take rate" on the 30th postoperative day and the audiometric result at the second postoperative month. Secondary outcome measures include subjective postoperative hearing, postoperative pain, duration of surgery, and cost of the procedures. RESULTS: The "take rate" did not differ between groups on the 30th postoperative day (88.2% in the inlay tympanoplasty group vs 86.1% in the underlay tympanoplasty group; P =.8). After a mean follow-up of 7.5 +/- 3.8 months (range, 3-16 mo), the "take rate" was 85.3% in the inlay tympanoplasty group and 83.3% in the underlay tympanoplasty group (P =.8). In the inlay tympanoplasty group there was closure of the air-bone gap (ABG) to within 10 dB in 64.7% and to within 20 dB in 94.1%. The corresponding numbers to underlay tympanoplasty were 75% and 97.2%. In only 2 cases (5.9%) in the inlay tympanoplasty group and in 1 case (2.8%) in the underlay tympanoplasty group the ABG was greater than 20 dB. No audiometric difference was observed between groups (P =.6). Most patients in the inlay tympanoplasty group reported immediate improvement in their hearing (P <.0001). Pain was reported by 10 patients in the inlay tympanoplasty group and by 30 patients in the underlay tympanoplasty group on the first postoperative day (P <.0001). The duration of the surgery (mean +/- standard deviation) was 33.6 +/- 7.8 minutes for the inlay tympanoplasty group and 62.9 +/- 12.7 minutes for the underlay tympanoplasty group (P <.0001). The estimated charge for inlay tympanoplasty at our institution was 65% less expensive than underlay tympanoplasty. CONCLUSION: The "take rate" and audiometric results following inlay cartilage tympanoplasty or underlay tympanoplasty were similar. Inlay butterfly cartilage tympanoplasty did not require general anesthesia, was less expensive, and more comfortable to the patient.