[Indications, techniques and anatomic results of the tympanoplasty using palisade cartilage]

One of the major unsolved problems of the middle ear is Eustachian tube disfunction and abnormalities in gas exchange through the middle ear mucosa, which produces negative pressure and may cause retraction pockets, adhesions, or atelectasis. Postoperatively, ear surgeons face a similar problem when conventional autologous material was used to reconstruct the tympanum. Sooner or later, the new tympanic membrane experience retraction, re-perforation and/or extrusion or displacement of the reconstructed ossicular chain. This paper proposes using cartilage as an alternative method of tympanic membrane reconstruction in a personal modification of Heermann's technique. The indications for the "palisade" reconstruction technique with cartilage, technical aspects, and anatomic results after an average of 20 months after surgery are discussed.