Outcomes of perichondrium and composite cartilage-perichondrium island grafts in type 1 tympanoplasty: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Objectives: In this study we compared patient outcomes after placement of perichondrium and cartilage-perichondrium grafts andexplored the advantages and disadvantages of the two graft materials in terms of graft viability and hearing improvement.Patients and Methods: Sixty patients with chronic otitis media undergoing type 1 tympanoplasty using the underlay technique wererandomly divided into two groups, a perichondrium graft (PER) group (n=30) and a cartilage graft (CG) group (n=30). We obtainedaudiograms; measured pre- and postoperative airway thresholds, air-bone gap gains and anatomical graft success rates, andrecorded Middle Ear Risk Index (MERI) scores.Results: The success rates did not differ significantly between the two groups (PER group [90%, n=27]; CG group [96.7%, n=29];p>0.05). We found no significant between-group differences in postoperative bone and airway changes, hearing gains, or mean MERIvalues (all p>0.05).Conclusion: The success rates of tympanoplasty does not differ between grafts containing perichondrium or island cartilage. Thus,island cartilage grafts should be placed not only in cases at risk but also in those undergoing standard tympanoplasty.