Tympanoplasty with island cartilage or temporalis fascia: a comparative study.

Purpose: To compare clinical and audiological outcomes of the type 1 tympanoplasties where conchal cartilage (island graft) and temporalis fascia were used as the graft material.

Procedures: In this retrospective study, the results of type 1 tympanoplasty operations (n = 50) in which cartilage and temporalis fascia were used for graft material were compared.

Results: Pre- and postoperative otoscopic findings of both groups were similar (p > 0.05). Preoperatively, the pure tone averages (PTAs) and hearing thresholds of the fascia and cartilage groups were similar (p > 0.05). However, postoperatively, the PTAs and air-bone gap closure were better with temporalis fascia compared to cartilage grafting (p < 0.05). On frequency-specific comparisons, the pure tone thresholds at the frequencies of 0.5, 1 and 2 kHz recovered better with temporalis fascia compared to cartilage (p < 0.05). Although the pure tone recovery was better at 4 kHz with temporalis fascia, the difference between the groups were not significantly different (p > 0.05).

Conclusion And Message: In conclusion, in contrast to many reports in the literature, temporalis fascia grafting seems better in our study than grafting with conchal cartilage.