A Comparative Study of Surgical Outcome Following Tympanoplasty with or Without Canaloplasty in Adolecent Age Group

Chronic otitis media (COM) poses significant challenges globally, affecting millions with hearing impairment and associated morbidities. This prospective study aimed to compare the surgical outcomes of type I tympanoplasty with and without canaloplasty in adolescent patients with COM, focusing on hearing improvement and graft success rates. Sixty-eight patients aged 11-18 years, diagnosed with inactive mucosal disease and conductive hearing loss, were enrolled from 01 January 2022 to 01 July 2023. They were randomly assigned to Group A (type I tympanoplasty with canaloplasty, n = 34) or Group B (type I tympanoplasty alone, n = 34). Preoperative and postoperative audiometric evaluations were conducted to assess air-bone gap closure and hearing thresholds. Graft uptake was evaluated at three months post-surgery. Both groups showed significant improvement in hearing postoperatively (p < 0.01). Group A exhibited a higher rate of successful graft uptake (94.11%) compared to Group B (91.17%), though this difference was statistically significant (p = 0.01). Canaloplasty in Group A facilitated enhanced visualization of the tympanic membrane and improved graft placement, contributing to favorable outcomes. The study underscores the potential benefits of combining canaloplasty with type I tympanoplasty in adolescent patients with COM, emphasizing improved hearing outcomes and graft success rates. These findings support the incorporation of canaloplasty to optimize surgical outcomes and enhance patient outcomes in chronic otitis media management.