[Island cartilage myringoplasty. Anatomical and functional results in 122 cases]

In certain situations ("high risk perforations") such as large perforations, revision cases, middle ear pathology, eustachian tube dysfunction and atelectatic ears, the failure rate of myringoplasty is high. Some authors have suggested that the materials most frequently used for myringoplasty (fascia and perichondrium) may have a role in this failure rate. Cartilage myringoplasty, however, achieves good results in these "high risk" cases. The purpose of this study is to analyze our results and describe the technique.

A retrospective study of all consecutive patient charts for cartilage myringoplasties performed in a 5-year period (2002-2007) was carried out.

During the study period, cartilage was used in 99 patients (122 cases). More than 66% of the cases were large perforations and 26% of the cases were revision cases. Successful closure was achieved in 92% of the cases and the functional results show an improvement in the air-bone gap average with statistical significance for type I tympanoplasties.

The reconstruction of tympanic membrane perforations with cartilage is recommended in certain cases ("high risk" perforations). The results described here show that the anatomical and functional results are good and we consider the technique easy to learn.

We consider cartilage myringoplasty a technique that could be used in "high risk" perforations where a technique using fascia or perichondrium may have a higher risk of failure.