Comparison of the anatomic and hearing outcomes of cartilage type 1 tympanoplasty in pediatric and adult patients

As a graft material cartilage produces an excellent anatomical result with a low risk of re-perforation. However, there is a controversy among surgeons regarding its sound conduction properties, due to the thickness and stiffness of the cartilage. The aim of this study was to evaluate results of cartilage type I tympanoplasty and to compare anatomic and audiologic results in pediatric and adult patients. Patients with chronic otitis media who underwent cartilage type I tympanoplasty were evaluated retrospectively. Patient age, gender, pre and postoperative hearing levels, surgical technique and postoperative complications were recorded. Hearing outcomes of the patients were measured with tonal audiometry by comparing the pre and postoperative hearing threshold calculated at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz. Graft success rates and hearing outcomes of the pediatric and adult patients were compared. Of the 136 patients included in the study, 58 were male and 78 were female. The average age was 25.03. Forty-five patients were ≤16-year old and 91 patients were >16-year old. Intact graft was determined in 41 of 45 pediatric patients and 85 of 91 adult patients at the last follow-up visit. The overall graft success rate was 92.6 %. The mean pre and postoperative pure-tone average was 34.8 ± 8.5 and 23.4 ± 9.1 dB in adult patients, and 30.6 ± 7.7 and 17.8 ± 7.8 dB in pediatric patients. Cartilage graft provides a quite satisfactory anatomical result and perfect stability. Hearing outcomes of cartilage tympanoplasty are also acceptable in both children and adult patients.