The use of homogeneous human amniotic tissue to repair tympanic membrane perforations

Human amniotic tissue previously treated with sodium hypochlorite and ethyl alcohol and stored in pure glycerol was employed to repair total and partial tympanic membrane perforations in 43 patients who underwent tympanoplasty or tympano-mastoidectomy. Follow-up varied from nine to 54 months. Closure of the perforation was obtained in 35 patients (81.4 per cent). Success rate was higher in tympanoplasty (84.8 per cent) than in tympanomastoidectomies (70 per cent). Functional improvement in hearing level was obtained in 65.7 per cent of the cases. In 25.7 per cent the hearing levels were unchanged and in 8.57 per cent they became worse. It was concluded that human amniotic tissue is an adequade material for tympanic membrane repair.