Hearing Improvement After Type III Tympanoplasty: A Prospective Observational Study

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Surgical Innovation
• Audiology

Background:

• Chronic otitis media (COM) presents challenges in restoring hearing function.
• Type III tympanoplasty aims to reconstruct the middle ear, often requiring ossicular chain repair.
• Homologous spur cartilage is a potential biomaterial for ossicular reconstruction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the postoperative hearing results of type III tympanoplasty using sculptured homologous spur cartilage.
• To assess the efficacy and safety of this technique in chronic otitis media patients.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study of 156 patients (ages 10-60) with COM undergoing type III tympanoplasty with ossiculoplasty.
• Utilized sculptured homologous spur cartilage for ossicular reconstruction.
• Pure tone audiometry (PTA) performed preoperatively and at 6-month follow-up to measure air-bone gap (ABG).

Main Results:

• The average preoperative air-bone gap (ABG) was 43.64 dB, reduced to 18.9 dB at 6 months postoperatively.
• Type III A tympanoplasty showed a mean ABG of 15.2 dB, while Type III B showed 22.11 dB at follow-up.
• The homologous spur cartilage graft demonstrated a very low extrusion rate.

Conclusions:

• Sculptured homologous spur cartilage is effective for ossicular chain reconstruction in type III tympanoplasty.
• This technique offers favorable hearing outcomes and a low risk of complications.
• The procedure is technically straightforward with a reduced risk of residual disease.