Repair of subtotal tympanic membrane perforations with Seprafilm.

OBJECTIVES

We studied the experimental use of Seprafilm, a sheet-like film form of hyaluronic acid, in the repair of subtotal perforations of the tympanic membrane (TM), and the durability of such repairs.

METHOD: The research was conducted on 42 Sprague-Dawley rats. Right TMs of all rats were subtotally and thermally perforated in the same fashion. Seprafilm was applied to the perforated TMs of the 21 rats comprising the experiment group. The perforated TMs of the remaining 21 rats, the control group, were left to heal spontaneously.

RESULTS

The mean healing times were recorded as 7.8 +/- 0.6 days for the Seprafilm group and 14.9 +/- 1.1 days for the control group (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that Seprafilm may be a possible first choice (before the decision to operate) in subtotal perforations, considering its easy application and patient follow-up.