Cartilage and tympanoplasty.

This study analyzes the morphological and hearing results obtained with cartilage tympanoplasty in retraction pocket, blunting and tympanic membrane lateralization, and cholesteatoma surgeries. Results obtained 3 years postoperatively in 80 patients operated on with cartilage reinforcement of the tympanic membrane (TM) were compared with those obtained 3 years postoperatively in 100 patients operated on with fascia or perichondrium TM reinforcement. Retraction pocket recurrence was found in the patients operated on with fascia or perichondrium in 24% of cases and only in 8% of cases in patients operated on with partial tympanic membrane cartilage reinforcement. No recurrence was found in patients operated on with a total reinforcement of the TM. Cartilage tympanoplasty with skin graft covering the bony external auditory canal (EAC) was performed in 6 cases of severe blunting and/or tympanic membrane lateralization. 3 years post-operatively, good morphological and functional results were obtained in 3 cases. One or two staged ICW procedures were performed in 390 adult patients (416 ears) suffering from a non operated middle ear cholesteatoma. Recurrent and residual cholesteatoma rates were evaluated. Cholesteatomas were operated on with removing the malleus, reinforcing all the tympanic membrane with cartilage and performing an ossiculoplasty with hydroxylapatite prosthesis. The results were compared to those obtained in ICW cholesteatoma surgery with preserving the malleus manubrium, partially reinforcing the eardrum with cartilage and predominantly using an ossicle to perform the ossiculoplasty. Removing the malleus and reinforcing the whole tympanic membrane with cartilage statistically reduced the cholesteatoma recurrence rate for the ICW procedure. This technique, using hydroxylapatite prosthesis for ossiculoplasty gives good hearing results.