An experimental study on tympanic membrane reconstruction with acellular dermal matrix

Abstract

Conclusion: Acellular dermal matrix (ADM) can be used as a substitute for tympanic membrane (TM) reconstruction.

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of ADM in the treatment of TM perforations.

Methods: Fifty guinea pigs were used to create TM perforations. The perforations of the left TM were repaired with ADM by patch technique in 28 guinea pigs and by underlay technique in 22 guinea pigs. The right ears were used as the control group by establishing TM perforation but without TM reconstruction. The morphological and structural status of the grafts was observed by immunohistochemistry and scanning electron microscopy.

Results: There was no statistically significant difference in TM perforation closure between the ADM patch technique group and the ADM underlay technique group, but these groups had a higher success rate in closing TM perforation than the control group. The healed TMs with ADM had the same characteristics as normal TM on histological examination.