Is Cartilage Shield Tympanoplasty better than Fascia Tympanoplasty

Background Temporalis fascia and cartilage are the most commonly used graft materials, though contradictory reports are available in literature as regards their efficacy in Tympanoplasty. The aim of the study was to compare the graft uptake rates and hearing results in case of temporalis fascia and cartilage in type 1 tympanoplasty Material and Method A total of 400 cases with large, subtotal and total perforation were considered in the study. All the selected patients were divided into two groups. Group A in which temporalis fascia graft was used and including 200 cases and cartilage graft was used in group B patients including 200 cases. Pure tone audiometry was performed preoperatively and postoperatively at 3 months, 6 months and 12 months. Results The graft uptake rate were more than 90 percent and more than 80 percent in group B respectively at the end of 14 week Conclusion From our study we came to the conclusion that both cartilage shield graft and temporalis fascia graft can be used as graft materials independently in Tympanoplasty. But the results of our study suggest that cartilage shield Tympanoplasty can be considered as the first line treatment in chronic otitis media especially with moderate/large/subtotal perforations with good success rate and hearing improvement.