Endoscopic or Microscopic Tympanoplasty Advantages and Disadvantages: A Theory Domain Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Surgical Innovation
• Evidence-Based Medicine

Background:

• Tympanoplasty, a common ear surgery, traditionally uses microscopy.
• Endoscopic techniques have gained popularity, but direct comparisons lack robust evidence.
• This systematic review addresses the need for comparative data on endoscopic versus microscopic tympanoplasty.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and compare endoscopic and microscopic tympanoplasty techniques.
• To determine if one technique demonstrates superiority in surgical outcomes.
• To synthesize current literature on the effectiveness and safety of both methods.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review adhering to PICO framework.
• Inclusion/exclusion criteria focused on primary data.
• Searched major databases (MEDLINE, LILACS, SciELO, EMBASE) with optimized queries.
• Evaluated 38 full-text studies from an initial selection of 99.

Main Results:

• Endoscopic tympanoplasty demonstrated comparable effectiveness to the microscopic approach.
• The endoscopic technique was identified as a safer surgical option.
• Potential advantages include reduced surgical duration and improved postoperative pain management.

Conclusions:

• Endoscopic tympanoplasty is a safe and effective alternative to microscopic tympanoplasty.
• The technique may offer benefits in terms of surgical efficiency and patient recovery.
• Further research can solidify the advantages of endoscopic approaches in ear surgery.