Full-thickness versus sliced cartilage in type I tympanoplasty, comparative study

Abstract Introduction The use of cartilage in type I tympanoplasty is associated with concern about a poor audiological outcome. Slicing the cartilage could be a tool to overcome such a feared problem. Objective To compare the healing and hearing outcomes of using sliced cartilage to full-thickness cartilage in type I tympanoplasty. Methods Seventy patients with small to medium-sized central dry tympanic membrane perforation were included in this prospective study. The patients were randomly assigned to one of these two groups: group A: full-thickness cartilage tympanoplasty was done, and group B: partial thickness cartilage tympanoplasty was done. The assessment of healing and hearing was done at 3 and 12 months postoperatively. Results The healing was achieved in 88.2% and 90.9% in group A and group B, respectively. In group A, the mean ABG was 23.44 dB preoperatively and 14.2 dB, and 12.6 dB in the first and second follow-ups, respectively. In group B, preoperative ABG was 23.58 dB compared to 7.9 dB and 6.93 dB in the two follow-ups, respectively. The results were significantly better in group B rather than group A at both follow-ups. Conclusion Hearing results are better when sliced cartilage is used in tympanoplasty type I than full-thickness cartilage.