A Comparative Study of Endoscopic and Microscopic Tympanoplasties Using Temporalis Fascia Graft

Abstract

Background: Chronic otitis media (COM) is a widespread disease in developing countries. Tympanoplasty is one of the common procedures in otorhinolaryngology for the treatment of COM. It can be done using microscope or endoscope. Present study is a comparison between these two techniques. Aims and Objectives: 1. Comparing the graft take-up rate between endoscopic and microscopic tympanoplasties. 2. Comparing the hearing result in microscopic and endoscopic tympanoplasties. 3. Comparing the operation time and postoperative complications. Materials and Methods: 100 patients were studied, out of which 50 were operated with microscope and 50 with endoscope. Patients were selected randomly from the ENT department. Results: Study shows that 50 patients were operated with endoscope and 50 were with microscope. The graft take-up rate is slightly higher in the endoscopic group in comparison to the microscopic group, i.e., 94% in the microscopic group and 96% in the endoscopic group. The endoscopic group has hearing improvement of average 17.4 dB as compared to the microscopic group (average 15.57 dB) postoperatively. A paired t-test shows P = 0.0001 (significant). Postoperative pain is more with the microscopic group. Clarity of vision is good with the endoscopic group. Conclusion: Hence, in our study, endoscopic tympanoplasty is better than microscopic tympanoplasty. But further study has to be done to identify the fact.