This research compares the efficacy of subcutaneous soft tissue and temporalis fascia in tympanic membrane grafting for large tympanic membrane perforations.

A retrospective cohort study compared tympanic membrane graft success rate and hearing outcomes in 248 patients who underwent tympanoplasty using subcutaneous soft tissue (n = 118) or temporalis fascia (n = 130) via the post-auricular approach.

Comparable results were observed in both groups. Tympanic membrane graft success rate was 98.3 per cent (116 ears) in the subcutaneous soft tissue group and 98.5 per cent (128 ears) in the temporalis fascia group. The rate of air–bone gap closure within 20 dB was 54.2 per cent (64 ears) and 60.0 per cent (78 ears) in the soft tissue and temporalis fascia groups, respectively (p = 0.360).

Subcutaneous soft tissue is a reliable and readily available tympanic membrane graft material in both revision and primary tympanoplasty for large tympanic membrane perforations.

To validate a newly introduced cartilage rim augmented temporalis fascia tympanoplasty technique by statistically comparing it with the morphological and audiological outcomes of traditional temporalis fascia tympanoplasty.

A retrospective comparative study was conducted on 115 patients who underwent tympanoplasty during 2013 and 2015. Fifty-eight patients underwent temporalis fascia tympanoplasty and 57 underwent cartilage rim augmented fascia tympanoplasty.

In the cartilage fascia group, graft healing was achieved in 94.7 per cent of cases; in the temporalis fascia group, the graft take-up rate was 70 per cent. In those with a normal ossicular chain, the post-operative air–bone gap was within 20 dB in 92.6 per cent of cartilage fascia group cases and in 69.7 per cent of the temporalis fascia group cases, which was a statistically significant difference. Among the defective ossicular chain cases, the post-operative air–bone gap was within 20 dB in 76.9 per cent in the cartilage fascia group, as against 57.1 per cent in the temporalis fascia group.

Cartilage rim augmented temporalis fascia tympanoplasty has a definite advantage over the temporalis fascia technique in terms of superior graft take up and statistically significant hearing gain in those with normal ossicular mobility.

Temporalis fascia has become the most widely used graft for tympanoplasty, as it is strong, durable, and easy to procure and handle. However, the type of temporalis fascia graft to use (i.e. dry or wet) remains controversial. The present review aimed to evaluate the success rates of dry and wet temporalis fascia grafts in type I underlay tympanoplasty.

A literature search was performed, using PubMed up to August 2016, to identify all studies of dry and wet temporalis fascia grafts in type I underlay tympanoplasty. The initial search using the key words ‘temporalis fascia’ and ‘tympanoplasty’ identified 130 articles; these were screened by reviewing the titles or abstracts based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Ultimately, this review included seven articles.

A dry or wet temporalis fascia graft did not affect the outcome of type I underlay tympanoplasty. However, using wet temporalis fascia could shorten the duration of surgery in type I underlay tympanoplasty. Concerns that the fibroblast count of temporalis fascia may beneficially affect success rate have not been substantiated in clinical reports thus far.

This study aimed to explore adenoid regrowth after transoral power-assisted adenoidectomy down to the pharyngobasilar fascial surface.

Transoral adenoidectomy down to the pharyngobasilar fascia surface was performed on 39 patients under endoscopic guidance, using a power-assisted system. The operation time, amount of blood loss and iatrogenic injury, presence of complications, and success and regrowth rates were recorded to assess the feasibility, safety and effectiveness of our surgical technique.

In this adenoidectomy procedure, the pharyngobasilar fascia was left intact. The estimated blood loss was 5–50 ml (mean 15 ml), and the success rate was 97.3 per cent. Early complications occurred in 2.3 per cent of patients, while no long-term complications occurred in the cohort. No regrowth was found in the follow-up assessments, which were performed for 18–36 months after surgery.

Adenoid regrowth was rare after adenoidectomy down to the pharyngobasilar fascial surface. The pharyngobasilar fascia can therefore be considered a surgical boundary for adenoidectomy.

To compare anatomical and audiological results using sliced tragal cartilage and temporalis fascia in type I tympanoplasty.

A retrospective review was undertaken of primary tympanoplasties using sliced tragal cartilage and temporalis fascia from May 2005 to January 2008. In total, 223 ears were operated on using sliced tragal cartilage graft and 167 using temporalis fascia. Statistical analysis of the outcome data was performed.

At the two-year and four-year follow ups, successful closure of the tympanic membrane was achieved in 98.20 per cent and 97.75 per cent, respectively, of the cartilage group compared with 87.42 per cent and 82.63 per cent, respectively, of the temporalis fascia group. At the four-year follow up, the average air–bone gap was 7.10 ± 3.01 dB in the cartilage group and 8.05 ± 3.22 dB in the temporalis fascia group.

The overall success rate for primary cartilage tympanoplasty is higher when using sliced cartilage than with temporalis fascia grafting.

This retrospective, comparative study aimed to assess anatomical and functional results in a group of adults undergoing type I tympanoplasty for subtotal tympanic membrane perforation, using two different types of graft.

The study included 106 patients affected by chronic otitis media, who underwent underlay type I tympanoplasty, 53 using an autologous chondro-perichondral tragal graft and 53 using temporalis fascia. Anatomical and functional outcomes were evaluated over time.

Audiometric results comparing the cartilage and fascia groups at six months and one year after surgery showed no statistically significant differences. Assessment of anatomical outcomes indicated a greater number of complications in the fascia group.

Functional results indicate the validity of the cartilage tympanoplasty, while anatomical results indicate a slightly better outcome in terms of graft re-perforation and retraction, compared with temporalis fascia at one-year follow up. These results suggest that the cartilage technique is preferable for type I tympanoplasty.

To compare the functional results of type I tympanoplasty performed with either temporalis fascia or a perichondrium and cartilage island flap, in patients with bilateral chronic otitis media.

The study included primary tympanoplasty cases with a subtotal perforation, an intact ossicular chain, a dry ear for at least one month and normal middle-ear mucosa, together with contralateral tympanic membrane perforation. Temporalis fascia tympanoplasty was undertaken in 41 patients, and cartilage tympanoplasty in 39 patients.

The graft success rate was 65.9 per cent for the fascia group and 92.3 per cent for the cartilage group. Post-operatively, the mean ± standard deviation air conduction threshold was 28.54 ± 14.20 dB for the fascia group and 22.97 ± 8.37 dB for the cartilage group, while the mean ± standard deviation bone conduction threshold was 11.71 ± 8.50 dB for the fascia group and 7.15 ± 5.56 dB for the cartilage group.

In patients with bilateral chronic otitis media, cartilage tympanoplasty seems to provide better hearing results and graft success rates.