Fascia Tympanoplasty: A Tertiary Center Experience

Tympanoplasty is a surgical procedure performed to repair a perforated tympanic membrane and restore hearing function. Understanding the risk factors associated with graft failure or recurrence is crucial for optimizing surgical outcomes. This retrospective study aimed to analyze the outcomes of tympanoplasty and identify potential risk factors using a tertiary center experience.

A retrospective cohort study was conducted using medical records from King Abdulaziz Medical City in Jeddah. Patients who underwent tympanoplasty surgery between 2017 and 2023 were included. Demographic characteristics, clinical factors, and surgical outcomes were analyzed using descriptive statistics and statistical tests.

Among 71 fascia tympanoplasty procedures, the success rate was 83.1%. Among 38 patients with post-operative hearing assessment, 57.9% showed improved hearing gap. Age at the time of surgery and post-operative decibel levels were significantly associated with hearing improvement. Post-operative residual perforation occurred in 16.9% of patients and was associated with changes in hearing gap. Most patients had successful graft uptake. The procedure was safe, with a low incidence of complications.

Fascia tympanoplasty demonstrated favorable outcomes in terms of success rate, hearing improvement, graft uptake, and safety. Age and closure of residual perforation were identified as significant factors influencing the surgical outcome. However, the study had limitations such as its retrospective design and the small sample size. Further research with larger sample sizes and prospective designs is needed to confirm these findings and optimize the management of tympanic membrane perforations.