ABSTRACT
The debate over the role of mastoidectomy in improving the results of tympanoplasty is a long one. In a trial to determine the effectiveness of mastoidectomy in improving the results of tympanoplasty by increasing the air cushion in the middle ear cavity, myringoplasty was performed in 60 patients with dry central perforation and with poor Eustachian tube [ET] function. In 30 of them, mastoidectomy was combined with myringoplasty, whereas in the other half myringoplasty was performed alone. It was found that the overall results, as regards graft take, hearing and ET function improvement were significantly better in those who had myringoplasty and mastoidectomy compared to those who had myringoplasty alone. Mastoidectomy seemed to be a safe and effective method to improve the results of myringoplasty