A longitudinal study on pediatric myringoplasty

Abstract

Objectives: Observational study on pediatric myringoplasty to examine the success rate in young and older children.

Patients and intervention: Fifty-one first-time primary myringoplasties were analyzed on children aged 4 to 13 years.

Main outcome measures: Using life-table analysis, the survival course of the graft in young children (aged 4-8 yr) was compared with those in older children (aged 9-13 yr). The effect of age on various outcome parameters, including otitis media with effusion/atelectasis, discharge, and hearing, was analyzed using the 12-month data.

Results: The 3-year graft take rate was 83.8% (95% confidence interval: 70.2, 97.5%). At 12 months, only 63.0% (42.4, 80.6%) were free of otitis media with effusion/atelectasis and discharge and preserved their hearing. There is no evidence of a difference in outcome in young and older children.

Conclusion: There was no evidence that age influenced surgical outcome in pediatric myringoplasty. Although the graft take rate was more than 80%, true success was only found in two thirds of cases.