A STUDY OF TEMPORALIS FASCIA GRAFT VERSUS COMPOSITE GRAFT IN TYMPANOPLASTY

Abstract

Background: Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) is a widespread disease in developing countries, treated by tympanoplasty.Temporalis fascia is an excellent graft material, with characteristics of low basal metabolic rate, and morphology similar to normal tympanic membrane with good graft take up rate and better hearing result.The present study is aimed to compare the results of tympanoplasty with Temporalis fascia alone and with cartilage as a support to temporalis fascia (Composite graft).
Methods: This is a Prospective and Comparative study conducted at NRI INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL SCIENCES, VISAKHAPATNAM between December 2020 to October 2022.Sample size- 60 patients. All the patients between 15–60 year age group satisfied the inclusion and exclusion criteria were included in the study.
Results: Out of 60 patients, 24 (40%) cases were in 16-30 years age group, 14(23.3%)cases were in 31-45 years age group and 22 (36.6%) were in 46- 60 years age group. 16-30 years age group patients are more in present study .Out of 60 patients, females are of 58.33% (35 cases) and males 41.67%(25 cases).The mean pre operative hearing was at 35.78 db while postoperative PTA after 6 weeks showed 18.44 db average . Out of 60 patients, in 56 cases (93.33%) graft uptake was good while the rest 4 cases had poor graft uptake (6.67%).Graft take up was equal in both the groups with 93.33%preoperative and postoperative air bone gap in the pure tone audiometry in temporalis fascia graft group and composite graft group. Composite graft group has more hearing improvement compared to fascia graft group. Hearing improved in fascia group 16.45 db, in composite graft 18.23 db.
Conclusion: Composite graft (fascia from temporalis muscle and conchal cartilage) is an excellent graft material when compared to temporalis fascia as the cartilage is rigid & thick with faster healing and easy manipulation during the procedure.