Myringoplasty in children.

Our 11 years of experience of myringoplasty in 87 children aged 3 to 14 years were retrospectively studied. The children were followed up over a period of 3 years. Children in the 3-to-12-year-old age group had a success rate of 57.7%. Graft-take rate was 100% in children operated on at the age of 13 and 14 years. Revision surgery was needed in 33 ears, and ultimate success was achieved in 88.9%. Within the same period, 38 ears were conservatively treated and 20 perforations of them were spontaneously closed. The state of the opposite ear and the perforation size were not a decisive factor in the results of myringoplasty. Children between 7 and 10 years old with small mastoid pneumatization had a statistically lower graft-take rate. We concluded that myringoplasty is warranted for children 13 years of age and older or children aged 7 to 12 years with large mastoid pneumatization.