Change of Middle Ear Mechanics after Tympanoplasty Type I with Thin Sliced Cartilage Island / 대한이비인후과학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Cartilage offers the advantage of higher mechanical stability compared with membranous transplants but it may alter the acoustic transfer characteristics, which could depend on its thickness. So, author attempted to design the thin sliced cartilage island for grafting material by tragal cartilage. The purpose of this study is to understand the usefulness of the thin sliced cartilage technique by comparing with conventional temporalis fascia technique with the method of tympanometry. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: From March 2002 to August 2005, 101 cases of tympanoplasty type I using the thin sliced cartilage island technique and 50 cases of tympanoplasty type I using the temporalis fascia performed by one surgeon had been followed up for 6 months and reviewed. Static compliance, tympanometric width and tympanometric pattern were followed up after 6 month. RESULTS: The static compliance in the thin sliced cartilage island technique group was 72% and temporalis fascia group was 66% at normal compliance (0.2-1.6 ml). The tympanometric width in the thin sliced cartilage island technique group was 59% and temporalis fascia group was 54% at normal tympanometric width (60-150 mmH2O). The tympanometric pattern in the thin sliced cartilage island technique group was 67% and temporalis fascia group was 62% at normal tympanometric pattern (A type). CONCLUSION: There is no significant statistical difference between the thin sliced cartilage island and temporalis fascia observed in the impedence audiometry. The thin sliced cartilage island technique is suggested to be good for tympanoplasty.