Effect of the weight of cartilage and fascia grafts on the audiological outcome of myringoplasty

<p>Mohamed Khamis Abdalla</p>

Effect of the weight of cartilage and fascia grafts on the audiological outcome of myringoplasty

Mohamed Khamis Abdalla

Alexandria University, Egypt

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Abstract

Statement of the Problem: The increased mass and stiffness of a cartilage-reconstructed eardrum might adversely affect its soundwave transfer charac¬teristics, its acoustic properties should be considered in making a choice of material. However, other studies show that covering the poste¬rior-superior quadrant of the TM with thick or thin car¬tilage has little effect on middle ear sound transmission. Even, allowing the cartilage to extend a little beyond the bony annulus to help prevent postoperative TM retrac¬tion does not adversely affect middle ear sound trans¬mission. Whatever these controversies are the weight of the graft never taken into consideration. Aim: The purpose of this study is to analyze the current literature about cartilage and fascia myringoplasty and how results are. Simultaneously, we conducted our own study and compared our audio logical results of cartilage myringoplasty and weighted both types of grafts to determine their mean weight. Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: Fascia myringoplasty was done for group I (30 par¬ticipants or 30 ears) and cartilage myringoplasty was done for group II (30 participants or 30 ears) then detailed statistical comparison of hearing results was done and mean of weight of the grafts was calculated. Result: There was no significant difference in audiometric results between the two groups (P>0.05) despite of the large mass of the cartilage graft in comparison to the weight of fas¬cia. Consequently, neither the mass nor the stiffness of the graft in cartilage myringoplasty has any effect on hearing thresholds. Conclusion & Significance: There is no significant statistical difference between fascia and cartilage myringoplasty as regarding air and bone conduction hearing thresholds despite of heavy weight of the cartilage graft in relation to that of fas¬cia. Recommendation study makes cartilage myringoplasty ideal operation for TM reconstruction without any fear of scarifying the hearing however the weight of its graft is more than twice that of fascia.