Tympanoplasty in young patients: the role of adenoidectomy

A retrospective study of 60 pediatric patients with dry tympanic membrane perforation undergoing type I tympanoplasty during a 15-year period was carried out. Seventy-seven percent of patients were followed up for 5 years. The overall success rate was 90%. All failures occurred in patients who previously had undergone adenoidectomy or adenotonsillectomy. However, sex was found to be the only statistically significant prognostic factor of tympanoplasty success: female patients had higher success rates than male patients. Neither patient age, prior ventilation tube placement, size of perforation, status of the contralateral ear, surgical technique (underlay or overlay), nor competence of the surgeon (resident or senior) affected the success rate. The possible reasons for these findings will be discussed.