The success rate following myringoplasty at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital

Abstract

Background: Myringoplasty is an operation to repair a tympanic membrane perforation. Aim: The aim was to assess the success rate of myringoplasty at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital and to determine what factors played a role in achieving a successful outcome. Given a successful outcome, preoperative hearing levels were compared with postoperative hearing levels. Methods: A retrospective review was performed of all myringoplasty procedures conducted from January 1997 until December 1998. A success was defined as a dry, intact tympanic membrane at least one month after the operation. Results: Myringoplasty was successful in 143 of 193 procedures (74%). In multivariate regression analysis two variables were significant in determining the likelihood of a successful outcome. Patients with a perforation size 50%. Patients with temporalis fascia were also 5.1 times more likely to have a successful outcome compared to patients with a composite graft. The mean pre-op air-bone gap was 18.2 dB whilst the mean post-op air-bone gap was 9.6 dB. Principle conclusions: The overall success rate following myringoplasty was 74%. Success was related to the size of perforation and use of temporalis fascia. Data from this study can be used to better inform patients of the probability of a successful outcome.