Technique of "empty tympanometry" in myringoplasty surgery

Abstract

Objective: To improve the traditional mesenteric tympanic membrane repair technique. The tympanic membrane is placed in the tympanic membrane without any tamponade and support.To explore the clinical application value of "empty tympanometry" in tympanoplasty. Method: A retrospective analysis of clinical data from 56 patients (59 ears) with tympanic membrane repaired by the same surgeon from March 2003 to 2015-12 was performed, all patients underwent the same procedure using the "empty tympanometry" sandwich method. In the traditional sandwich method to repair the tympanic membrane, the tympanic cavity is not filled with gelatin sponge and other supporting materials, and the residual tympanic membrane layer is used as a support to sandwich the temporalis fascia between the fibrous layer and the epithelial layer.Statistical analysis of the healing rate of ear tympanic membrane perforation and the degree of hearing recovery at 6 months after surgery. Result: The hearing of 56 ears(95%)improved postoperative, no obvious difference in 3 ears (5%). All the patient did not feel hearing loss and ear fullness, so does reperforation.All of the perf healing well(100%) and showed no recurrence of perforation. Postoperative airway mean hearing threshold (34.4±16.8) dB HL was lower than preoperative (43.6±14.0) dB HL (P<0.01). Air-Bone Gap（ABG）of post-operation (15.7±10.9) dB HL was lower than pre-operation (23.0±7.7) dB HL(P<0.01). Conclusion: The "empty ME cavity technique" has a high healing rate and no incidence of the second perforation, also improved hearing commendably. The technical could be popularized and applied widely.