Success of myringoplasty: our experience

The purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy of myringoplasty with or without cortical mastoidectomy in terms of freedom from discharge, graft take up and improvement in hearing. This is a Clinical prospective study of 120 patients from among a group of patients with chronic suppurative otitis media. A detailed history and examination was conducted including pure tone audiogram. Patients were randomly divided into two groups; group A would undergo myringoplasty only and group B would undergo cortical mastoidectomy with myringoplasty. Patients were reviewed after 3 weeks for inspection of the operated ear. Second post-operative review was at 3 months for clinicoaudiological assessment. Group B was found to have slightly more improvement as compared to the other group. No significant difference in the success rates of graft take-up in patients with unilateral or bilateral disease was found. Higher take up rates were seen in large (91.83 %) and medium perforations (90.69 %). In all our failed cases, post-operative ear discharge continued to be a persistent and troubling problem. The average audiological gain was 12.88 dB in group B, whereas it was 12.40 dB in group A. The reduction of air bone gap within each group was found to be significant. There is no statistical significant data indicating that tympanoplasty with mastoidectomy yields better results. When considering the addition of a mastoidectomy to a Tympanoplasty, the performing surgeon should consider not only the potential added benefit but also potential risks and costs to the patient.