Outcomes Following Transcanal Endoscopic Lateral Graft Tympanoplasty

Demonstrate feasibility of performing endoscopic transcanal lateral graft tympanoplasty.Compare audiometric and clinical outcomes of transcanal endoscopic lateral graft with previously reported outcomes of microscopic post-auricular lateral graft tympanoplasty.

A retrospective review of sequential pediatric and adult endoscopic transcanal lateral graft tympanoplasties (type I) performed between May 2014 and August 2015 at a single institution by two experienced otologists. Rate of perforation closure and audiometric outcomes (pure-tone average [PTA] and word recognition scores [WRS]) were obtained and compared with previous published outcomes of post-auricular microscopic lateral grafts.

Twenty patients, five right and 15 left ears, met criteria. Ninety percent of patients had successful closure of their perforation. One patient had a residual central perforation; active acute otitis media was noted intraoperatively in this case. One patient had graft lateralization. Mean follow up was 10.5 months (standard deviation [SD] = 141 d). Mean operative time was 160 (SD = 26.1) minutes. Mean improvement in PTA was 18 dB (SD = 10.3). Two patients had worsening of audiometric outcomes with <15 dB decreases in PTA and unchanged WRS; all other patients showed improvement or no change in audiometric outcomes. These results are similar to previously published outcomes for post-auricular microscopic approaches.

Transcanal endoscopic lateral graft tympanoplasty is a novel technique for closure of anterior and subtotal perforations that avoids a postauricular incision. Outcomes in this cohort were similar to historical results for post-auricular microscopic approaches. Prospective studies with larger cohorts will be crucial to understanding the advantages and limitations of this new surgical approach.