Results of myringoplasty in chindren: a comparison with an adult population

ABSTRACT

To find out validity of myringoplasty in children by comparing its anatomical and functional results with adult myringoplasty. Adescriptive cross sectional study Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery at a tertiary care teaching hospital in Rawalpindi from January 2007 to December 2010. A total of 89 patients having dry central tympanic membrane perforation of various sizes secondary to chronic tubotympanic suppurative otitis media were included in the study. The patients were divided in two groups. First group comprised of children upto the age of 14 years whereas those above the age of 14 years were included in second group. Myringoplasty was performed in all patients with temporalis fascia utilizing underlay technique. The two groups were compared regarding graft success rate and hearing improvement at the end of 6 months of follow up. Out of 89 patients included in the study, 37 [41.6%] belonged to child group whereas 52 [58.4%] were included in adult group. Among 37 patients in child group, 34 [91.8%] had successful graft take at the end of 6 months of follow up whereas 47 [90.3%] patients out of 52 in adult group had successful graft. Average air bone gap closure of 13.5 dB was noted in child group whereas in adult group it was 12.5 dB. The difference between graft success rate and average air bone gap closure was found to be statistically insignificant [P>0.05]. Results of myringoplasty in paediatric and adult age group are comparable in terms of graft success rate and hearing improvement