Tri-adcortyl ointment ear dressing in myringoplasty: an analysis of outcome

In a retrospective study of patients who had undergone myringoplasty at our department within a 12-month period, we assessed the graft take rate using tri-adcortyl ointment (TAO) as ear dressing. Data including age, site and size of perforation, grade of surgeon, surgical approach, use of postoperative ear dressings, complications and audiometric outcome was collected from the patient notes and analysed. The overall success rate of the operation (with success being defined as an intact tympanic membrane at 6 months) was noted. Seventy-seven patients were operated, but data were complete on 64 patients and these constituted the study population. TAO was used in 95% of the patients and BIPP gauze pack in the remaining 5%. Age ranged from 8 to 63 years (mean 34 years). Mean follow-up period was 13 months. Most of the operations (72.88%) were carried out by consultants with a success rate of 89% and the remaining patients were operated by trainees with a success rate of 88% (P = 1.000). The overall success rate was 89, 90.16% for TAO and 66.66% (2 out of 3) for BIPP (P = 0.298), 95% for small and 86% for subtotal perforations (P = 0.573), 85% for anterior and 100% for posterior perforations (P = 0.240), 91% for adult patients and 88% for children (P = 1.000). TAO is a suitable ear dressing in myringoplasty. Routine use of TAO did not affect the success rate of myringoplasty at our centre.