Introduction:
For tympanoplasty different autologous, allogenic or xenogeneic grafts, for example, tragus cartilage, fascia or fascia lata of body donors may be used. By the transcanal approach, middle ear surgery is performd through the funnel, thus the tragus is not exposed, so the use of alternative tissue, such as fascia lata, for tympanoplasty appears advantageous here. In a retrospective study, we examined the tonal-audiometry results in various tympanoplasties (type I to III).
Material and method:
In a retrospective study, we examined 46 patients (male 24, female 22) at tympanoplasty type I, II, III the audiological results preoperatively as well as after 6 weeks and 3 months. In addition, the condition of the eardrum was controlled endoscopically.
Results:
A comparison of preoperative and postoperative conductive hearing loss with a three-month follow-up showed an improvement in the mean hearing loss of 10.16 dB (averaged hearing thresholds of 250 Hz to 8 kHz, n = 10). In addition, we obtained an endoscopic finding of the eardrum in all patients, with no reperforation occurring in any case.
Discussion:
During transmeatal surgery, the use of Fascia lata (Tutoplast) as an avital Trasnplantat of human body, in order to achieve long-term adequate eardrum closure with adequate hearing improvement. A comparison with tympanoplasty procedures in a comparison group with perichondrium or composite graft is still planned.
