A Comparative Study of Temporalis Fascia Graft and Full Thickness Tragal Island Cartilage Graft in Type 1 Tympanoplasty

Abstract

We aim to compare the functional and anatomical outcomes of temporalis muscle fascia graft with that of full thickness composite tragal island cartilage graft in patients who are undergoing Type 1 Tympanoplasty. This is a prospective study conducted on 60 patients. Patients who underwent type 1 tympanoplasty were included in the study. Patients were divided into Group A (temporalis fascia graft) and Group B (tragal island cartilage) with 30 patients in each. Out of the 60 patients, 18 females and 12 males belonged to Group A, 20 females and 10 males belonged to Group B. The mean age group was between 31 and 40 yrs in both the groups. The mean hearing gain and ABG closure for Group A was 13.83 ± 8.11 and 13.39 ± 7.44 and in Group B it was 11.17 ± 4.06 and 11.5 ± 5. The graft uptake rate of Group A was 90% and Group B was 96.67%. The wound healing rate of Group A was 93.33% and Group B was 100%. The mean duration of surgery in Group A was 97.5 ± 17.16 and in Group B was 81.33 ± 11.14. Both the groups had significant post-operative improvement in hearing. No significant results found between both the groups in terms of hearing gain, air-bone gap closure, wound healing and graft uptake rate except lesser duration of surgery in group B. We conclude that tragal island cartilage graft is a better choice in Type 1 Tympanoplasty.

Keywords: Air–bone gap; Composite graft; Myringoplasty; Pure tone audiometry; Temporalis fascia; Tragal island cartilage; Type 1 tympanoplasty.

Fig. 1

Pre-Operative image showing a dry central perforation

Fig. 2

Post-operative endoscopic image showing island cartilage graft in position