Modification of surgical procedures of type 1 tympanoplasty for non-cholesteatomatous chronic otitis media.

OBJECTIVE

To introduce our modified procedures of type 1 tympanoplasty and to assess their efficacy.

METHODS

We modified the surgical procedures of type 1 tympanoplasty and have used these procedures since September 1999. The modified points are enlargement of the facial recess approach, no elevation of the posterior meatal skin and the tympanic annulus, and endoaural repair of tympanic membrane perforation. 51 patients with simple chronic otitis media have undergone this modified type 1 tympanoplasty. Postoperative hearing was evaluated according to the criteria proposed by the Otological Society of Japan.

RESULTS

The average follow-up period was 15 months (range 6-35). The hearing result was considered successful when the postoperative hearing level satisfied with at least one of three conditions as follows: (1) air-bone gap <15 dB, (2) hearing gain >15 dB, or (3) hearing level >30 dB. The success rate was 94.1%. The average postoperative air-bone gap, hearing gain and hearing level were 3.9, 10.0 and 29.3 dB, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Our modified tympanoplasty is useful to achieve better postoperative hearing results.