Background

The primary objective of doing a tympanoplasty is to reconstruct the diseased tympanic membrane with central perforation in chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM). A successful outcome is determined by an intact, mobile tympanic membrane with good hearing. The graft materials used for the procedure were skin graft, fascia lata, fascia temporalis, vein and cartilage. The cartilages that were used are usually harvested from the pinna. In the pinna, it is usually from the conchal bowl. The thickness of the conchal cartilage differs from the site of harvesting [1, 2]. It is documented in certain studies that the use of full-thickness cartilage reduces the compliance of the tympanic membrane (TM) [3, 4]. We conducted this study comparing the hearing results and compliance of the tympanic membrane between the sliced conchal cartilage (1.0-mm CC) and full-thickness conchal cartilage (FTCC) used in successful tympanoplasty procedures. The aim of the study is to know the difference in compliance and assess the audio logic gain between the two groups.

Methods

We conducted the study in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Audiology of our institution after obtaining permission from the Institutional Human Ethics Committee from January 2015 to July 2017. A total of 40 tympanoplasty ears were enrolled in the study by quasi-randomisation. They were divided into two groups. Twenty ears with successful tympanoplasty using sliced cartilage of 1 mm thickness were enrolled in one group (odd), and 20 ears enrolled in the other group underwent successful full-thickness cartilage tympanoplasty (even). The total number of patients in the study was 32. Some of the patients had bilateral disease.

All patients between the age of 15 and 55 years having inactive CSOM: moderate size TM perforation who underwent successful tympanoplasty with cartilage (1-mm CC and FTCC) were included in the study (Fig. 1). Patients who were < 15 years and > 55 years, who had ear discharge in the last 12 weeks, who had subtotal/total TM perforation, who had attic perforation with or without cholesteatoma, with mixed hearing loss or sensorineural hearing loss, with sclerosed or partially sclerosed mastoid (compared to opposite ear in unilateral perforation), had a previous history of ear surgery were excluded from the study.

Fig. 1
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Showing the TM perforations

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Every patient included in the study who was taken up for tympanoplasty was subjected to examination under the microscope, preoperative pure tone audiometry, X-ray of both mastoids and preoperative anaesthetic screening before doing the procedure. The same steps in the procedure were followed for all of the patients.

The procedure was done under general anaesthesia (GA). Local anaesthesia of 1:1,00,000 adrenaline given in the four quadrants of the external auditory canal for all patients.

Post-aural Wilde’s incision was made. Periosteum incised and elevated from the temporal bone cortex. Posterior meatotomy was made and external auditory canal along with the tympanic membrane with its perforation was visualised. Ear canal packed with cottonoids soaked in local anaesthetic (4% lidocaine) and adrenaline for local vasoconstriction.

The margins of the perforation were freshened by using a sickle knife, and under the surface of the remnant tympanic membrane was made raw with a round knife. Rosen incision from 6’o clock position to 1’o clock position anterior to the lateral process of malleus was made and the tympanomeatal flap was elevated, annulus was lifted from the sulcus and the middle ear was entered, the malleus was skeletonised from the lateral process to tip. The ossicular continuity confirmed by demonstrating a round window reflex.

Conchal cartilage was harvested from the conchal bowl (Fig. 2). The thickness was measured with callipers. For patient’s ear in the 1-mm CC group, cartilage slicer device (Dr. Khan’s SLICE!T) was used to slice the cartilage to 1 mm thickness (Fig. 3). The perichondrium on one side of the cartilage was retained and cartilage was kept as an underlay graft with the perichondrium facing the external auditory canal. The tympanomeatal flap was repositioned. The external auditory canal was packed with medicated gel foam. Standard postoperative mastoid dressing and care was carried out for all the patients.

Fig. 2
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Showing the method of harvesting the conchal cartilage

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Fig. 3
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Showing the image of Dr. Khan’s SLICE!T cartilage slicer used for slicing the conchal cartilage

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Postoperatively, all the patients were given weight calculated intravenous cefotaxime for 3 days. All the patients were discharged on the fourth postoperative day. They were followed up weekly for the first month and biweekly for the next 2 months. On each visit, the healing of the tympanic membrane was documented. On the 12th postoperative week, all the patients were subjected to pure tone audiogram and tympanogram (226,678,100 Hz). If the patient had a residual or reperforation at the end of 12 weeks, they were excluded from the study.

The results were tabulated and analysed. PASW ver. 18.0 was adopted for statistical study. Distribution of the variables was verified with the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Independent sample t test and Mann-Whitney U test were used in the quantitative data analysis. Chi-square test was used to analyse qualitative data. p values < 0.05 were documented as statistically significant.

Results

Of the 40 ears for which tympanoplasty was done (32 patients), 18 patients were male and 14 were female. The mean age of the patients was ~ 32 years. Twenty ears were operated with sliced conchal cartilage (1-mm CC) and 20 ears underwent tympanoplasty with full thickness conchal cartilage (FTCC). The age and sex distribution were not statistically significant in the two groups.

In the 1-mm CC group, the mean preoperative air-bone gap (ABG) was 29 dB, and the postoperative ABG was 17 dB. The ABG gain was 12 dB in 1-mm CC group. There was a statistically significant audiological gain (p = 0.03) (Table 1, Fig. 4).

Table 1 Preoperative and postoperative pure tone audiogam
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Fig. 4
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Showing the ABG gain between the two groups

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In the FTCC group, the mean preoperative ABG was 28 dB, and the postoperative ABG was 21 dB. The ABG gain was 7 dB. The improvement was not statistically significant (p = 0.4). Between the two groups, the mean ABG gain was statistically significant (p = 0.04).

Tympanograms were done measuring the volume, pressure and compliance between the two groups postoperatively at 226 Hz, 678 Hz and 1000 Hz. The compliance value at 226 Hz in the 1-mm CC group was 0.43 when compared to the FTCC group in which it was 0.73. Also, the volume of air in the 1-mm CC group at 226 Hz was 2.5 when compared to 1.75 in FTCC group. The data was statistically significant (p = 0.01 and 0.031 respectively). At all other frequencies, the difference was not statistically significant (Table 2, Fig. 5).

Table 2 Showing the difference in air volume and compliance between two groups
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Fig. 5
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Showing the tympanogram values containing air volume (AV) and compliance values (C)

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Discussion

When temporalis fascia is compared with cartilage, muscle fascia has the advantages of easily moldability and a structure that ensembles tympanic membrane [5]. Some studies have documented a drop in graft performance as age goes by [6, 7]. This is why we need thick and strong cartilage material as an alternative [8,9,10]. And because it is thicker than a fascia, it does not undergo atrophy [11, 12]. The shape of the cartilage can be altered for appropriate placement of the graft by underlay technique and that adds to the advantage [13, 14]. The greatest concern now is the thickness of the graft material that is used for reconstruction. Many studies documented the reduction in ABG closure and reduction in the compliance of the TM in the long run [15,16,17]. All these studies compare cartilage with fascia. We have compared the results by reducing the thickness of the cartilage to 1 mm with the help of a cartilage slicer that gives a tailored thickness of cartilage that can be precisely used in appropriate conditions. The mean ABG closure is comparable to the study conducted by Kirazli et al. [18]. Our study conducted using a 1-mm CC gave an ABG closure of 12 dB.

Moore et al. did revision tympanoplasties using conchal cartilage from the conchal bowl [5]. These cartilages resist retraction and help in creating appropriate middle ear volume. Our study showed a statistical difference in 226 Hz tympanograms where 1-mm CC group showed better compliance when compared to FT CC graft materials. The results were comparable to one study conducted by Greek et al. [7]. Although higher frequencies show better comparison, our study did not show any statistical difference for higher frequencies.

Conclusion

Our study found evidence of a difference in ABG closure between the two groups. The 1-mm CC group had better ABG closure than the FTCC group and hence a good gain in hearing. The tympanogram results showed improved compliance in the 1-mm CC group when compared to the FTCC group. This study explains the need to use sliced cartilage of 1 mm thickness or less in case of first-time tympanoplasty. A long-term randomised prospective controlled study may be needed for understanding the healing process.

Limitations

Long-term follow-up of the healed tympanic membrane