Endoscopic Tympanoplasty Using Nasal Septal Cartilage Allograft

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Surgical Innovation
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Tympanoplasty is a common surgical procedure to repair tympanic membrane perforations.
• Traditional tympanoplasty methods can involve donor site morbidity and longer recovery times.
• Exploring alternative graft materials and minimally invasive techniques is crucial for improving patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the morphological and functional results of Type I tympanoplasty using alcohol-preserved nasal septal cartilage allografts.
• To assess the efficacy and safety of the endoscopic permeatal approach for cartilage tympanoplasty.
• To determine the benefits of this technique regarding operative time, patient recovery, and overall outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A prospective, interventional study involving 60 patients undergoing Type I tympanoplasty.
• Utilized 70% ethyl alcohol-preserved allogeneic nasal septal cartilage (0.5 mm thickness) as the graft material.
• Performed surgery using an endoscopic permeatal route with a 0°, 4 mm, 18 cm Hopkin's rod endoscope.

Main Results:

• At 6 months post-surgery, 95% of patients (57/60) demonstrated an intact tympanic membrane.
• The mean postoperative air-bone gap (ABG) was 11.83 dB, indicating significant hearing improvement.
• 70% of procedures were completed within 30-45 minutes, and 70% of patients returned to normal activities within 3-5 days.

Conclusions:

• Endoscopic cartilage tympanoplasty with nasal septal cartilage allografts is a safe and effective procedure for Type I tympanoplasty.
• This technique yields excellent anatomical and audiological results.
• Benefits include reduced operating time, lower morbidity, decreased pain, and no visible scarring.