Anatomical and functional long-term results of endoscopic butterfly inlay myringoplasty

The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term anatomical (graft success) and functional (audiological) results of endoscopic butterfly inlay myringoplasty.

The files of 56 patients (29 female, 27 male) who were diagnosed with noncomplicated chronic otitis media and underwent endoscopic butterfly inlay myringoplasty in 2014-2016 at a tertiary referral center were reviewed. Age, gender, follow-up time, perforation location (anterior, posterior and central), perforation size (small, medium), pre- and postoperative pure tone audiometry (PTA) thresholds, pre- and postoperative air-bone gaps (ABG) and complications were noted.

Graft success rate was 98.2% in postoperative 12th month and 94.6% in postoperative 24th month. In all patients, mean PTA for air conduction was 35.2 ± 3.9 dB preoperatively and 27.5 ± 4.3 dB in postoperative 6th month, 25.1 ± 3.5 dB in postoperative 12th month and 20.4 ± 3.2 in postoperative 24th month. Preoperative mean ABG was 24.2 ± 3.8 dB, whereas 19.5 ± 4.3 dB 6 months after surgery, 17.1 ± 3.5 dB 12 months after surgery and 12.4 ± 3.1 dB 24 months after surgery. There was significant difference between pre- and postoperative PTA and ABG in all 6th, 12th, 24th month follow-up (p = 0.001 for all measurements). Three patients (5%) had myringitis after surgery. Two patients (3%) had total graft resorption.

We suggested that endoscopic butterfly inlay myringoplasty is a safe surgical method with high graft success and effective hearing reconstruction. Follow-up is necessary for at least 2 years for precise anatomical and functional evaluation of the surgery.