Comparative study on the effects of EGF and bFGF on the healing of human large traumatic perforations of the tympanic membrane

Abstract

Objectives/hypothesis: We evaluated the effects of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on the healing of large traumatic tympanic membrane perforations (TMPs).

Study design: Prospective clinical study.

Setting: Tertiary university hospital.

Methods: A randomized, prospective analysis was performed between June 2013 and August 2014 on the treatment of traumatic TMPs larger than 25% of the TM. Closure rate, closure time, hearing gain, and rate of otorrhea were compared between EGF and bFGF groups, as well as to an observation-only group.

Results: Final analysis was performed on 86 patients at 3 months. The closure rates of perforation in the EGF, bFGF, and observation groups were 86.2%, 89.3%, and 72.4%, respectively. The closure rates in the EGF and bFGF groups were 14% to 17% higher than in the observation group, although the difference was not statistically significant for the total closure rate among the three groups (P = 0.200). The average closure time was significantly longer (P < 0.01) in the observation group than in the EGF and bFGF groups. However, the closure times in the EGF and bFGF groups were not significantly different (P = 0.92). In addition, differences in purulent otorrhea rates among the groups were not statistically significant (P = 0.82).

Conclusions: Both EGF and bFGF can accelerate the closure of human large traumatic TMPs. The healing outcomes among the two growth factors were not significantly different.

Keywords: Traumatic; basic fibroblast growth factor; epidermal growth factor; healing outcome; tympanic membrane perforation.