[Application of the tragus cartilage in the tympanoplasty].

OBJECTIVE

To observe the application of the tragus cartilage in tympanoplasty.

METHOD: Thirty-eight patients with tympanoplasty carried out tragus cartilage-perichondrium repairing tympanic membrane. The air-bone gap changes and the recovery of patients'tympanic membrane were evaluated at pre-operative and two months after the operation.

RESULT: Thirty-one patients finishing follow-up visit showed tympanic membrane healed and looked like normal appearance in 1 to 3 months after the operation. The postoperation narrow of the air-bone gap >18 dB, tragus looked normal.

CONCLUSION

Tympanic membrane reconstruction using the tragus cartilage-perichondrium is feasible for tympanoplasty, and the survival rate and postoperative hearing would be acceptable.