Scutumplasty: costal cartilage versus bone paté

This study was carried out to evaluate the anatomical and hearing results of the reparation of attic defects in closed tympanoplasty. Reparation was carried out in 194 patients by using a costal cartilage allograft, and in 159 patients with a bone pate autograft. The follow-up was from 1 to 5 years. The study was not truly randomized owing to an occasional lack of allogenic costal cartilage. In the group 'costal cartilage' a partial resorption was observed in 5.7% and a complete resorption in 4.7% of the cases. In the group 'bone pate', partial resorption was observed in 5.5% and total resorption in 2.7% of the patients. Satisfactory hearing results were obtained in 86% of the patients of the group 'costal cartilage' and in 82% of the patients of the group 'bone paté'. Both graft materials may be recommended for repairing erosions caused by the cholesteatoma in the wall of the external auditory canal.