Type 1 Revision Tympanoplasty Using Tragal Cartilage in a Tertiary Care Centre: A Prospective Observational Study

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Surgical Innovation
• Audiology

Background:

• Revision tympanoplasty is often challenging.
• Graft failure and hearing loss can persist after initial surgery.
• Finding optimal graft materials for revision cases is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the graft success rate and hearing outcomes of type 1 revision tympanoplasty.
• To evaluate the efficacy of using tragal cartilage as a graft material in revision tympanoplasty.

Main Methods:

• A prospective observational study was conducted with 44 patients (18-60 years) undergoing type 1 revision tympanoplasty.
• Tragal cartilage grafts were used for tympanic membrane reconstruction.
• Graft uptake and hearing gain were assessed 3 months postoperatively.

Main Results:

• A high graft uptake rate of 90.90% was observed in 40 out of 44 patients.
• A statistically significant postoperative hearing gain of 7.12 ± 2.99 dB was achieved (p=0.001).
• No complications such as graft lateralization, medialization, epithelial pearl formation, or anterior blunting were reported.

Conclusions:

• Tragal cartilage is a viable and effective graft material for type 1 revision tympanoplasty.
• It facilitates easier graft placement, leading to superior graft uptake and audiological results.
• This method offers a safe and effective solution for patients with persistent conductive hearing loss after initial tympanoplasty.