Experiences with the homograft tympanic membrane

Forty-three patients who underwent tympanoplasty with the use of a homograft tympanic membrane are reviewed. These procedures were performed by 10 different surgeons over a period of six years. The success rate of tympanic membrane closure, hearing results, and incidence of complication were studied. Results were examined to determine possible factors contributing to failure. The success rate and lack of complications suggest that homograft tympanic membrane tympanoplasty is a useful procedure, particularly where the blood supply to the tympanic remnant is felt to be in jeopardy.