Areolar connective tissue grafts in pediatric tympanoplasty: a pilot study.

Purpose: To compare the surgical and audiologic success rates of areolar connective tissue with temporalis fascia in pediatric tympanoplasty.

Methods: Retrospective case series review of 10 patients younger than 18 years who underwent primary tympanoplasty between December 1997 and December 2000 using areolar connective tissue grafts. Tympanoplasty patients receiving temporalis fascia grafts during this period were used as a control group. Surgical and audiometric results were gathered after a minimum follow-up of 1 year.

Results: Both groups were similar in their clinical characteristics (P <.05). The surgical success rates for areolar and temporalis fascial groups were 90% and 91%, respectively. Closure of the air bone gap to within 25 dB was achieved in 90% and 91% of the areolar and temporalis fascial groups, respectively.

Conclusions: This study showed equivalent surgical and audiometric success rates between areolar connective tissue and temporalis fascia. Both are excellent sources of graft material in pediatric patients.