Myringoplasty: surgical outcomes and hearing improvement: is it worth performing to improve hearing?

The purpose of our study was to determine the success rate of myringoplasty in adults and children and to examine whether the hearing improvement is a potential indication for surgery. We performed a 6-year prospective audit study in a cohort of patients undergoing myringoplasty at the University Teaching Hospital, Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery. Two hundred and eleven patients who underwent myringoplasties were included in the study. All were performed by a postaural approach using autologous temporalis fascia and underlay technique. The total success rate, in terms of graft uptake at 3-6 months, was 91.5% and an overall hearing improvement was achieved in 91.5% of cases. This was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Only weak correlation was found between hearing improvement and age (Pearson's r = 0.175, P = 0.024), and there was no significant difference in hearing improvement across gender (P = 0.164), size (P = 0.198) or site (P = 0.447) of the perforation. Myringoplasty is an operation that can improve hearing in many cases independently of age, gender and the size and site of the perforation. Patients who undergo myringoplasty should be advised whilst been consented that there is a good chance of hearing improvement.