Publication:

A comparative study of temporalis fascia and fascia lata graft in type-1 tympanoplasty

Background Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media (CSOM) is most commonly faced otological condition by ENT surgeons. Tympanoplasty is the established surgical management for tympanic membrane perforation. In this study we are comparing temporalis fascia and fascia lata as graft material in type-1 tympanoplasty to compare the graft taken up and post-op hearing improvement.

Methods A retrospective study over 80 patients with CSOM of mucosal type, dry ear for more than 6-8 weeks and the age of 15-60 years enrolled in the study. The patients who underwent the surgery for randomly assigned into 2 groups: group-1: tympanoplasty operated with temporalis fascia graft, group-2: tympanoplasty operated with fascia lata graft. All surgeries done under general anesthesia. The patients were evaluated post operatively in terms of graft taken up and hearing status.

Results In our study post op tympanoplasty graft taken up with temporalis fascia was 86.36% whereas fascia lata graft contributed 88.88%. Hearing gain on an average with temporalis fascia graft was 11.46 dB while with fascia lata graft was 10.09 dB. Statistical data proved that there was no significant difference between two groups. So both groups had their own merits and demerits.

Conclusions Overall graft uptake rate and hearing gain with temporalis fascia and fascia lata in type 1 tympanoplasty are almost equal. There was no significant difference in both groups so ultimately it is surgeon choice and level of expertise that decides use of graft material in tympanoplasty.