[Comparison of hearing levels and tympanic membrane healing obtained by cartilage palisade and temporal fascia tympanoplasty techniques: preliminary results].

OBJECTIVES: We compared the levels of hearing and tympanic membrane healing obtained by cartilage palisade and temporal fascia tympanoplasty techniques. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Tympanoplasty procedures with the use of cartilage palisade (30 patients; 14 males, 16 females; mean age 28 years; range 10-62 years) and temporal fascia (30 patients; 17 males, 13 females; mean age 30 years; range 12-58 years) were compared with respect to tympanic membrane healing and hearing levels. The size of perforations in the cartilage tympanoplasty group was greater than that of the temporal fascia group. Audiological assessments were performed in the postoperative third and sixth months. The follow-up period was at least six months. Tympanic membrane healing and hearing levels were statistically analyzed using the chi-square and Mann-Whitney U-tests. RESULTS: Tympanic membrane healing rates were 80% (24 patients) and 86% (26 patients) in the temporal fascia and cartilage tympanoplasties, respectively. Postoperatively, hearing levels improved in both groups. However, no significant differences were found between the two treatment groups with respect to tympanic membrane healing and hearing levels. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that cartilage palisade graft can be safely used in the treatment of tympanic membrane perforations, with no adverse effects on the hearing levels in the postoperative six months.