Simultaneous Bilateral Same-Day Endoscopic Myringoplasty Using Tragal Cartilage From One Ear

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Surgical Innovation
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Chronic otitis media (COM) affects a significant population, often requiring surgical intervention like myringoplasty.
• Tragal cartilage is a viable autograft material for tympanic membrane reconstruction.
• Endoscopic techniques offer minimally invasive approaches to middle ear surgery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the outcomes of bilateral same-day endoscopic myringoplasty using contralateral tragal cartilage in patients with bilateral COM.
• To compare anatomical graft success and functional hearing outcomes between unilateral and bilateral same-day myringoplasty procedures.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 62 patients (84 ears) aged 18-65 with bilateral COM undergoing endoscopic myringoplasty between January 2015 and December 2017.
• Patients were divided into unilateral (Group 1) and bilateral same-day (Group 2) procedures.
• Outcomes assessed included graft success rates and air-bone gap (ABG) changes.

Main Results:

• Graft success rates were high and similar in both groups (92.5% in Group 1 vs. 93.2% in Group 2, P = .904).
• Both groups showed statistically significant improvement in ABG (preoperative vs. postoperative, P < .001).
• Functional hearing outcomes (mean hearing gain and proportion of ears with ABG ≤10 dB) were comparable between groups, with no significant difference (P = .582).

Conclusions:

• Bilateral same-day endoscopic myringoplasty utilizing tragal cartilage is a safe and effective surgical option for patients with bilateral chronic otitis media.
• The procedure demonstrates comparable anatomical and functional success rates to unilateral myringoplasty.
• This technique offers a satisfactory solution for tympanic membrane reconstruction in bilateral COM, with good hearing restoration.