Comparison of Myringoplasty for the Chronic Small Tympanic Membrane Perforations: Fat versus Perichondrium

Received February 26, 2011 Revised April 4, 2011 Accepted April 12, 2011 Address for correspondence Jong Dae Lee, MD, PhD Department of OtorhinolaryngologyHead and Neck Surgery, Soonchunhyang University School of Medicine, 1174 Jung-dong, Wonmi-gu, Bucheon 420-767, Korea Tel +82-32-621-5441 Fax +82-32-621-5440 E-mail ljdent@schmc.ac.kr Background and ObjectivesZZThere are several techniques to perform myringoplasty for tympanic membrane perforations as an outpatient procedure. The aim of this study is to compare the results of fat and perichondrium myringoplasty for the treatment of chronic small tympanic membrane perforations. Subjects and MethodZZThis investigation included 46 patients with chronic tympanic membrane perforations smaller than 3 mm. The patients were equally divided into 2 main groups according to surgical procedures. The patients underwent fat, or perichondrium myringoplasty without skin incision via transcanal approach under local anesthesia. The healing results of perforation and hearing improvement were investigated. ResultsZZClosure rates of the perforations in the fat, perichondrium myringoplasty groups were all the same as 87% (20/23). There were no significant differences between techniques in tympanic membrane closure rates with regard to size and location and in hearing improvement. However, the recovery time was a little faster in perichondrium myringoplasty during follow up. ConclusionZZConservative myringoplasty using fat and perichondrium is a feasible procedure that can be perfomed on outpatient basis for chronic small tympanic membrane perforations. Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg 2011;54:329-33