Improving Tympanoplasty: Transverse External Auditory Canal Flap Advancement

We conducted this study to investigate the clinical outcomes of a new self-created technique for improving tympanoplasty. This technique, called the external auditory canal flap advancement method, aims to treat large tympanic membrane perforations, particularly those without residual edges at the anterior margin.

We selected 30 patients (50 ears) with large tympanic membrane perforations located in the anterior part of the tympanic membrane without residual edges. We grouped these patients based on the surgical methods used. Twenty-six patients in the experimental group were treated with the new method of endoscopic transverse external auditory canal skin flap repair. The control group, consisting of 24 patients, received conventional endoscopic tympanoplasty. We assessed the patients for hearing, postoperative pain, and tympanic membrane healing both before and after the surgery.

Our new method significantly improves the success rate of tympanic membrane repair and hearing levels. The healing rate of tympanic membrane repair in the experimental group was 96.15% (25/26). Patient discharge time, postoperative pain, or recovery time was not affected.

Endoscopic transverse external auditory canal flap nudge repair, as a complement to conventional otoscopic tympanoplasty, should be promoted in clinical practice.