A Comparative Study of Button Hole Technique Versus Underlay Technique in Type 1 Tympanoplasty

Tympanoplasty is the most common operation performed by an Otolaryngologist worldwide.Type 1 tympanoplasty involves repair of pars tensa of tympanic membrane, when the middle ear is normal. The most widely used method is underlay technique using temporalis facia. In buttonhole tympanoplasty, the temporalis fascia is anchored to the handle of malleus through the buttonhole.

To compare and analyze graft uptake and hearing outcome in button hole technique and underlay technique.

It is a comparative study done at tertiary care center, where patients suffering from tubotympanic type of chronic otitis media with medium sized perforation with moderate conductive hearing loss, within age group of 18-60 years,were selected.

In Button hole tympanoplasty group the mean hearing gain was 9.3dB, and 8.17 dB in Underlay tympanoplasty group which was statistically significant (p < 0.05) but P value between Button hole and Underlay tympanoplasty was not statistically significant.With regard to graft uptake 96.7% showed graft uptake in Buttonhole tympanoplasty group and in underlay tympanoplasty the graft uptake was 93.3%.

Buttonhole technique is better in terms of graft uptake since the graft is anchored to the handle of malleus, and postoperatively medialisation of graft and other complications like lateralization of graft, epithelial pearl formation and anterior blunting is prevented. Both techniques are good in terms of hearing improvement for chronic otitis media with medium sized perforation with moderateconductive hearing loss.