Adolescent Type 1 Cartilage Tympanoplasty: Factors Affecting Surgical Outcome

This study aims to evaluate the success rate of type 1 cartilage tympanoplasty in adolescents and identify the factors influencing surgical outcomes.

The medical records of 70 adolescent patients, who underwent cartilage type 1 tympanoplasty between 2018 and 2023, were reviewed retrospectively. Age, gender, size and type of tympanic membrane perforation, status of the opposite ear, middle ear status, history of previous ventilation tube (VT) insertion and adenoidectomy, preoperative and postoperative hearing levels, anatomical and functional success rates were analyzed.

Eighty-four ears of 70 patients were enrolled in the study. Anatomical success was achieved in 83.3% and surgical success was achieved in 67.9% of all ears. Adhesive otitis media, previous VT insertion and the size of perforation were detected to be the most important negative prognostic factors affecting the surgical outcome (P < .001, P = .012 and P = .046, respectively). No correlation between surgical success and risk factors such as age, gender, perforation type or location, status of the opposite ear was detected.

Tympanoplasty in adolescent age group has high success rates with correct technique and detail-oriented surgery. Given its impact on outcomes, careful evaluation and potentially staged treatment for adhesive otitis media may enhance the success rate. Cartilage should be the graft material of choice in such patients because of its durability and resistance to retraction.