Preliminary results with the use of AlloDerm in chronic otitis media.

Objectives/hypothesis: AlloDerm, an acellular dermal graft, has been used successfully as a material for soft tissue implantation. The authors report their experience with the use of AlloDerm in the reconstruction of the tympanic membrane.

Study Design: Case review study.

Methods: Charts were reviewed for all patients who underwent tympanoplasty with and without mastoidectomy between June 1999 and June 2002 in whom AlloDerm was used as a grafting material. There were 24 patients, 17 with simple perforations (8 revisions) and 7 with chronic otitis media with cholesteatoma (6 revisions). Success was defined as closure of the tympanic membrane perforation.

Results: Closure of the perforation using AlloDerm was achieved in 87.5% of the patients (ie, in all but three patients). Another patient developed serous otitis media and required a myringotomy tube in the postoperative period.

Conclusions: The success rate for AlloDerm in tympanoplasty was similar to that of temporalis fascia in the authors' experience. AlloDerm can provide a suitable grafting material when fascia is not available or when the size of the defect precludes the use of fascia.