Tympanoplasty in adult patients at the Hospital Clínico of the Universidad de Chile: Review of 10-year experience

Abstract

Introduction: Simple chronic otitis media (COM) is a frequent cause of consultation in ORL, and involves surgical treatment. Aim: To describe the epidemiological characteristics of COM patients, reviewing the different surgical techniques used in our ORL department, as well as its anatomical and auditory results. Material and Method: A retrospective, descriptive study. We reviewed the clinical records of all patients older than 14 years old, who presented with COM and underwent tympanoplasty, between January 1995 and December 2005. Results: Out of a total of 429 tympanoplasties, only 242 fulfilled the selection criteria. Among this group there was a clear predominance of females (63.8%), with an average age of 37 years old. With respect to laterality, there were no significant differences in the ear involved (50.8%, right ear; 49.2%, left ear). As for surgical approach, 52% were transaural, 47% retroaural, and 1% trans-preaural. In most cases, grafts were made of cartilage and perichondrium, positioning them lateral to the tympanic membrane. In 89% of cases, tympanic membrane repair was long-lasting. Of the cases in which an auditory follow-up was made, hearing was preserved or improved. The most frequent complications were recurrent perforation (10%), and graft lateralization (2.92%). Conclusion: Tympanoplasty continues to be a frequent surgical procedure in ORL. In this study we did not find evidence for a relationship between surgical technique and long-term outcome, either from the anatomical repair or audiometric viewpoints.