Hyaluronic Acid Gel as an Outer Ear Canal Packing Following Tympanoplasty: A Randomized Controlled Study

Özet

Aim: In search of better alternative material than gelatin sponge dressing (GSD) traditionally used in the external ear canal aftertympanoplasty, it’s aimed to evaluate the use of new cross-linked hyaluronic acid gel (HYA) and compare it with GSD.Methods: This block-randomized controlled trial was performed in 50 patients who underwent tympanoplasty between April andDecember 2019. The patients were divided into two groups according to external ear filling material (HYA as study group n=25, GSDas control group n=25). The groups were compared in terms of edema, pain, graft morphology, epithelization, drainage parameters atpostoperative 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th weeks. In addition, pure-tone audiometry and graft success were also evaluated.Results: After the first week, edema in HYA was significantly less than GSD (p=0.033). Reaching the 2nd week, less discharge wasobserved in HYA (p=0.007). Third week results showed edema in HYA was significantly less than that of GSD (p=0.023). In the 4thweek, the postoperative gap gain in the HYA group was significantly higher than GSD (p=0.037). The difference in graft intake betweengroups was not significant (p=0.189).Conclusion: New cross-linked HYA gel may act as a promoter in the healing process after tympanoplasty and may have positive effectson hearing restoration.