Endaural or postaural incision for myringoplasty: does it make a difference to the patient?

The aim of this study was to find out from patients who had undergone a myringoplasty via either an endaural or postaural approach whether or not they had experienced problems or symptoms relating to their scar, and if these differed depending on which incision had been used. A questionnaire was sent to 91 patients who had undergone myringoplasty between 18 and 62 months earlier. Thirty-four patients who had undergone previous or subsequent ear surgery were excluded. The only statistically significant difference found between groups having either a postauricular or endaural incision was in how likely others were to comment on their scar. There seem to be few long-term sequealae relating to the scar from myringoplasty. From a patient perspective, between 18 and 62 months postoperatively, there was very little difference in symptoms or problems whether or not an endaural or a postaural incision had been used for the surgery.