Cartilage Tympanoplasty for Retraction Pockets

Abstract

Objective: To see the efficacy of cartilage tympanoplasty in retraction pockets of tympanic membrane. Method: Prospective study conducted from 2009 to 2010. Disease studied: Retraction pockets in tympanic membrane. Subjects studied: Twenty. Setting: Tertiary care center. Interventions: The retraction pockets were excised and cartilage tympanoplasty using tragal cartilage and perichondrium was performed. Graft take-up, hearing improvement was noted and statistical significance was calculated. Results: Patients were followed up for a period of 6 months. Graft take-up was seen in 16 (80%) cases with residual perforation in 2 cases and recurrence of retraction pockets in 2 cases. The average preoperative hearing loss was 39.50 + 1.44 decibels, while the average postoperative hearing loss was 26.75 + 1.86 decibels, with a gain of 12.75 decibels ( P value less than .01). Conclusion: Retraction pockets management by excision and cartilage tympanoplasty provides the tympanic membrane with greater strength and greatly increases the rate of tympanic membrane closure without affecting audiometric results. Graft take-up and improvement in hearing was noted in 80% of the cases ( P < .01).