Irradiated rib cartilage graft for reconstruction of the tympanic membrane: preliminary results
Schulte, D.L.; Driscoll, C.L.; McDonald, T.J.; Facer, G.W.; Beatty, C.W.
American Journal of Otology 19(2): 141-144
1998
ISSN/ISBN: 0192-9763 PMID: 9520048 Document Number: 492322
Objective: To evaluate the advantages, disadvantages, safety, and results in reconstruction of the tympanic membrane using irradiated rib cartilage. Study Design: Retrospective chart review. Setting: A tertiary referral center. Patients: All patients who had gtoreq6 months follow-up who underwent tympanoplasty or tympanomastoidectomy using irradiated rib cartilage graft at our institution from January 1, 1993 to December 31, 1996. Intervention: Tympanoplasty or tympanomastoidectomy using homologous irradiated rib cartilage as graft material. Main Outcome Measures: Postoperative speech reception thresholds, speech discrimination scores, and air-bone gap were compared with preoperative levels. Complications directly related to irradiated rib cartilage tympanoplasty were sought. Results: Speech reception threshold did not significantly change. Speech discrimination scores were stable or improved in all patients. Postoperative air-bone gap was ltoreq10 dB in 43.2% of patients and ltoreq20 dB in 70.3% of patients. There was a 16% complication rate regarding tympanoplasty in general. No complications unique to irradiated rib cartilage occurred. Conclusion: Irradiated rib cartilage is an alternative tympanoplasty material that may save operating time, spares patients an added incision, provides results similar to other grafting material, and is safe.