Publication:

Otoendoscopic management of small to medium sized tympanic membrane perforation

Background Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) is a wide spread disease of developing countries like India especially in rural areas. A perforated tympanic membrane results in loss of hearing due to decreased drum area and liability to recurrent infection of the middle ear mucosa.

Methods A prospective study was conducted over a period of 18 months in the Department of ENT, HNS, Government Medical College, Srinagar with total of 36 patients were enrolled.

Results This study consists of male 12 and 24 females mean age 32 yrs hearing loss average 26 db. Management methods were grouped in group A, B, C and D fat myringoplasty, chemical cauterization (trichloroacetic acid), fat myringoplasty + chemical cauterization: and transcanal transtympanic myringoplasty using tragal perichondrium respectively with least success seen in group B 55% and 100% seen in group D.

Conclusions Otoendoscopic management of small to medium sized TM perforations with different methods is a cost effective, less traumatic procedure, cosmetically better and functionally effective in terms of hearing improvement.