Evaluation of Audiological Profile and Graft uptake by Endoscopic Composite Cartilage Graft Tympanoplasty in Chronic Otitis Media Patients

Abstract

Background: Transcanal endoscopic ear surgery (TEES) permits wide-angle vision, high resolution, and magnification as well as the direct visualization of hidden areas of the middle ear cavity. The aim of the study was to determine the anatomic and functional results of endoscopic composite cartilage tympanoplasty in chronic otitis media cases with safe central perforation.

Methods: This prospective study was conducted on 50 chronic otitis media cases with safe central perforation (small/medium) between February 2020 to July 2021 in a tertiary care center. All the patients were selected as per the described inclusion and exclusion criteria. All cases underwent endoscopic composite cartilage graft tympanoplasty (type-I) under general anesthesia. Audiological outcomes were assessed by comparing mean pure tone average pre-and post-operatively and morphological results (successful graft uptake) were evaluated at 6 months.

Results: The result of this study showed that out of 50 cases 47 had successful graft uptake (94%) while 3 cases were found to have a residual perforation. The pre-operative air conduction threshold (ACT) was 42.82±7.33 dB whereas postoperative ACT was 31.26±7.48 dB, and the difference between the preoperative and postoperative values was found to be statistically significant.

Conclusions: This study concluded that endoscopic composite cartilage tympanoplasty in chronic otitis media cases with dry central perforations is an effective surgical modality with good audiological and morphological outcomes and negligible post-operative complications.