Objective:To compare the differences in postoperative healing rates, hearing improvement, and complication rates between endoscopic butterfly inlay cartilage tympanoplasty and underlay cartilage tympanoplasty in Small-to-Medium-Sized Tympanic Membrane Perforations, and to provide clinical basis for indication of the butterfly inlay cartilage tympanoplasty. Methods:This study enrolled patients with chronic suppurative otitis media or traumatic tympanic membrane perforations who were treated at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, between January 2022 and May 2023. Inclusion criteria comprised a dry ear period exceeding 3 months, absence of middle ear or mastoid pathology confirmed by temporal bone CT, and an air-bone gap of less than 40 dB. All surgeries were performed by the same surgeon using tympanoplasty techniques. Based on the surgical approach and perforation size, patients were categorized into four groups: Group A（butterfly cartilage tympanoplasty, perforation ≤3 mm）: 23 cases. Group B（butterfly cartilage tympanoplasty, perforation 3-5 mm）: 17 cases. Group C（full-thickness cartilage underlay tympanoplasty, perforation ≤3 mm）: 12 cases. Group D（full-thickness cartilage underlay tympanoplasty, perforation 3-5 mm）: 22 cases. Data collected included perforation duration, preoperative Eustachian Tube Score（ETS）, pure-tone audiometry, otoscopic findings, and postoperative follow-up data on pure-tone thresholds, otoscopic outcomes, and complications such as graft infection and otorrhea. Results: The mean postoperative follow-up period was 4 months （range: 3-12 months）. A total of 74 patients were enrolled, including 40 undergoing butterfly cartilage tympanoplasty and 34 receiving full-thickness cartilage inlay tympanoplasty. In the <3 mm perforation subgroup, the patients receiving butterfly technique （23 cases） exhibited a postoperative air-bone gap （ABG） improvement of （2.33±8.21） dB, and those receiving the inlay technique （12 cases） showed an ABG improvement of （2.49±7.9） dB, with no statistically significant difference between the two groups （P>0.05）. In the 3-5 mm perforation subgroup, the patients receiving butterfly technique （17 cases） demonstrated an ABG improvement of （8.16±5.69） dB, and those receiving the inlay technique （22 cases） achieved an ABG improvement of （8.08±10.42） dB, which were not significantly different （P>0.05）. Tympanic membrane healing rates across the four subgroups were 95.65%, 94.12%, 100%, and 95.45%, respectively, with no statistically significant differences （P>0.05）. Conclusion:In patients with tympanic membrane perforations ≤3 mm and 3-5 mm, butterfly cartilage tympanoplasty achieves comparable audiological outcomes to full-thickness cartilage underlay tympanoplasty. Compared with the underlay technique, the butterfly method is less invasive, preserves the normal anatomical structure of the tympanic membrane, requires a shorter dry ear period, and yields higher patient satisfaction. Therefore, it can be safely recommended for perforations ≤5 mm that do not require tympanotomy exploration.
Humans ; Tympanic Membrane Perforation/surgery* ; Tympanoplasty/methods* ; Treatment Outcome ; Endoscopy ; Cartilage/transplantation* ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Myringoplasty/methods* ; Otitis Media, Suppurative/surgery* ; Aged

Objective:This study was aimed to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of tympanoplasty using auricular cartilage combined with balloon eustachian tuboplasty for the treatment of adhesive otitis media（adhesive otitis media, AdOM） under endoscopic. Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 60 patients with unilateral adhesive otitis media who visited Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University between January 2017 and February 2022. All patients were divided into three groups: ①conservative treatment group;②simple tympanoplasty group; ③tympanoplasty combined with balloon dilation group（BET group）. All patients were regularly assessed for the improvement of tympanic membrane morphology, hearing, and Eustachian tube function, as well as complications, after treatment. Results:There was no significant improvement in eardrum morphology, hearing, or eustachian tube function in the conservative treatment group（P>0.05）; both the simple tympanoplasty group and the BET group showed significant improvements in eardrum morphology and hearing after surgery（P<0.01）; In terms of Eustachian tube function improvement, the BET group showed significantly greater improvements in Eustachian tube manometry（TMM） and Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Questionnaire（ETDQ-7） scores compared to the tympanoplasty alone group（P<0.01）. Conclusion:Tympanoplasty using auricular cartilage combined with balloon eustachian tuboplasty shows good clinical outcomes in the treatment of adhesive otitis media, significantly ameliorating patients' subjective symptoms such as tinnitus and ear congestion after surgery, thereby improving the patient's quality of life.
Humans ; Eustachian Tube/surgery* ; Retrospective Studies ; Tympanoplasty/methods* ; Otitis Media/surgery* ; Ear Cartilage/surgery* ; Endoscopy ; Dilatation ; Treatment Outcome ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Middle Aged

Objective:To introduce a new design of super-micro flap for endoscopic ear surgery, and to evaluate the application effect of super-micro flap in endoscopic tympanoplasty. Methods:Between January, 2023 and March, 2024, 58 patients（64 ears） with tympanosclerosis underwent tympanoplasty with super-micro flap. Continuous irrigating mode endoscopic ear surgery（CIM-EES） was used to complete type Ⅱ or Ⅲ tympanoplasty with the tragus cartilage with followed up for 12 to 24 months. The operation time, postoperative efficacy and complications were statistically analyzed. Results:Of the 64 ears, 63 ears had primary healing of the tympanic membrane, and 1 ear had cartilage necrosis due to multi-drug resistant bacteria infection. The second operation was performed one year later, and the success rate of operation was 98.40%. The average operation time was （48.40±8.86） minutes. The average hearing threshold of 0.5 kHz to 4.0 kHz before operation was （59.63±10.62） dB HL, and the average air conduction threshold of 0.5 kHz to 4.0 kHz one year after operation was（38.79±10.91） dB HL, which was significantly improved compared with that before operation（P<0.01）. Bone conduction threshold also improved significantly （24.49±8.55） dB HL vs（21.88±7.58） dB HL（P<0.01）. No outer tympanic membrane healing and ear canal scar stenosis occurred. Conclusion:The design of super-micro flap can effectively solve the interference of flap floating during continuous irrigating mode in endoscopic ear surgery, relieve the difficulty of flap reposition, simplify the operation process, help to shorten the operation time, and reduce the possibility of circular scar stenosis of conventional free flap, which provides a new flap design option for endoscopic ear surgery.
Humans ; Tympanoplasty/methods* ; Endoscopy/methods* ; Surgical Flaps ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Myringosclerosis/surgery* ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Tympanic Membrane/surgery* ; Adolescent ; Young Adult

Objective:This study aims to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of staged endoscopic surgery for Shin-Ⅲ stage external auditory canal cholesteatoma. Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 25 patients diagnosed with Shin-Ⅲ cholesteatoma of the external auditory canal, who were admitted to the Otology Center of the First People's Hospital of Foshan City from May 2020 to October 2024. All patients initially underwent endoscopic cholesteatoma removal. Based on the outcomes of the first-stage postoperative follow-up, patients were categorized into two groups: the repair type and the non-repair type. The non-repair type was further subdivided into simple and complex types. Of the total cases, 10 patients were of the repair type, with 9 requiring no further surgical intervention. The non-repair type comprised 15 patients, of which 8 were classified as simple type and underwent either tympanoplasty type Ⅰ or external auditory canal wall reconstruction during the second stage. The remaining 7 patients, identified as complex type, received open mastoidectomy or tympanotomy in the second stage, with or without ossicular chain reconstruction. Results:All patients were monitored for a minimum of six months postoperatively. The incidence of dry ear was observed in 22 patients, corresponding to a dry ear rate of 88.0%. Four cases experienced primary complications. Conclusion:Endoscopic phased operation for managing Shin-Ⅲ stage cholesteatoma of the external auditory canal can ensure that the surgical options match the severity of the lesions, reducing unnecessary surgical trauma and achieving good efficacy.
Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Ear Canal/surgery* ; Endoscopy/methods* ; Cholesteatoma/surgery* ; Male ; Tympanoplasty ; Female ; Treatment Outcome ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear/surgery* ; Mastoidectomy

Objective:To investigate the risk factors of wet ear status and its impact on the efficacy of endoscopic type Ⅰ tympanoplasty. Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted at the Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chinese People's Liberation Army（PLA）Air Force Medical University, on 160 ears that underwent endoscopic type Ⅰ tympanoplasty; these were assigned to a dry-ear group （n= 118） and a wet-ear group （n= 42）.Univariate analysis and binary logistic regression were used to identify risk factors for wet ear status. Postoperative outcomes, including tympanic meoombrane healing rate and hearing improvement across frequencies, were compared between groups. Results:①Significant intergroup differences were observed in age, residual tympanic membrane status, external auditory canal condition, mastoid pneumatization（MC0）, and middle ear ventilation dysfunction（P<0.05）; ②The degree of mastoid pneumatization being MC0 is an independent risk factor for wet ear（P<0.05）; ③No significant difference in tympanic membrane healing rates was found（P>0.05）; ④The wet ear group showed significantly higher pre-and postoperative air-conduction（AC） and bone-conduction（BC） thresholds at 2 kHz and 4 kHz compared to the dry ear group（P<0.05）, though the postoperative air-bone gap（ABG） improvement was comparable. Conclusion:Poor mastoid pneumatization is a risk factor for wet ears. The wet ear state has no effect on tympanic membrane healing and air-bone conduction gap, but patients in the wet ear group may have more severe inner ear or auditory nerve pathway damage.
Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Tympanoplasty/methods* ; Adult ; Risk Factors ; Male ; Female ; Young Adult ; Endoscopy ; Adolescent ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Child ; Logistic Models ; Tympanic Membrane/surgery*

Objective:Retrospective analysis of clinical data of 123 patients with atticotomy, exploring the clinical characteristics of patients undergoing atticotomy and the efficacy of hearing reconstruction methods. Methods:123 patients with atticotomy were divided into three groups according to the ossicular chain treatment method: preservation of the ossicular chain group（37 cases）, cartilage elevation of stapes group（49 cases）, and PORP group（37 cases）. The clinical characteristics of patients with atticotomy, preoperative and postoperative hearing levels of the three groups of patients, and postoperative complications were analyzed. Results:①89.43%（110/123） of patients who underwent atticotomy were pars flaccida cholesteatomas, while 10.57%（13/123） of patients were secondary cholesteatoma, adhesive otitis media, pars tensa cholesteatomas, congenital cholesteatoma, and external auditory canal cholesteatoma; ②The group with preserved ossicular chain had a shorter medical history compared to the other two groups, and the difference was statistically significant（P<0.001）. The group with preserved ossicular chain had smaller inter group ABG values and average ABG values at frequencies of 500 Hz, 1 000 Hz, 2 000 Hz and 4 000 Hz before surgery compared to the other two groups, and the difference was statistically significant（P<0.001）; The differences in ABG frequencies and average ABG between the three groups of patients before and after surgery were statistically significant（P<0.05）; Postoperative ABG: The group preserving the ossicular chain had a smaller difference compared to the other two groups, with a statistically significant difference（P<0.05）. There was no statistically significant difference between the cartilage plus high stapes group and the PORP group（P>0.05）; ③At 3 months post surgery, all patients achieved ear dryness. Two patients experienced delayed facial paralysis after conservative treatment, and all recovered. One patient had a slight decrease in bone conductivity due to the influence of grinding during hammer anvil fixation surgery, and one patient experienced a recurrence after 4 years due to residual surgery. 81 patients（65.85%） experienced non cartilage repair area invagination during postoperative follow-up, of which 5 patients（4.07%, 5/123） underwent a second surgery. Although the rest of the patients had local invagination, they could still self clean and did not form a cholesteatoma. The total recurrence rate was 4.88%（6/123）, with an average recurrence time of 4 years. Conclusion:Atticotomy surgery is most commonly used for pars flaccida cholesteatomas with limited scope. The incidence of postoperative retraction is high, and regular follow-up is necessary; When conditions permit during surgery, priority can be given to preserving the ossicular chain for better postoperative hearing. Both cartilage elevation of stapes and PORP implantation can effectively improve hearing, and there is no difference in postoperative hearing between the two methods. However, there is a risk of detachment and high cost after PORP surgery, and cartilage elevation of stapes is limited by insufficient height and stapes head erosion. Therefore, it is necessary to choose a comprehensive hearing reconstruction method based on the patient's condition.
Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Female ; Male ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Plastic Surgery Procedures/methods* ; Hearing ; Middle Ear Ventilation/methods* ; Treatment Outcome ; Adolescent ; Child ; Ossicular Replacement/methods* ; Ear Ossicles/surgery* ; Young Adult ; Tympanoplasty/methods*

Objective:To observe the position and morphology of tubular cell in lateral facial recess by CT scanning and surgical finding, and its clinical significance. Methods:Thirty patients（32 ears） with cholesteatoma and/or adhesive otitis media requiring radical mastoidectomy and tympanoplasty were included in this study. To observe the morphology of the tubular cell in the lateral facial recess cavity through temporal bone HRCT and surgery, and to analyze its relationship with the facial nerve. Results:Tubular cell were found in 59.4%（19/32） ears by temporal bone HRCT and through surgeon. The length ranged from 1.5-6.5 mm, with median length of 2.5 mm. All of them opened in the facial recess, ran on the posterior wall of the facial recess, and even reached the bottom of the inferior tympanic cavity or the level of the inferior wall of the external auditory canal（sagittal view and surgical findings）. Probing from the inside out, the tubular cell located between the second genu of the facial nerve and the chorda tympani, which was a part of the lateral wall of the facial nerve（facial crest）. When the tubular cell is occupied by granulation tissue, it is easy to be regarded as the facial nerve. Fully drilling out the tubular cell is helpful to cut down the facial nerve crest. In the study, the follow-up and/or postoperative no facial paralysis happens during the operation and in the follow up. Conclusion:Preoperative temporal bone HRCT can clearly show the tubular cell in the lateral facial recess cavity. Comprehensive and accurate identification of these structures is helpful to fully cut down the facial nerve crest and remove the hidden lesions in the posterior tympanic cavity.
Humans ; Facial Nerve/diagnostic imaging* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Male ; Adult ; Temporal Bone/diagnostic imaging* ; Otitis Media/surgery* ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear/diagnostic imaging* ; Mastoidectomy/methods* ; Tympanoplasty/methods* ; Young Adult ; Adolescent ; Clinical Relevance

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Pre-operative eustachian tube function (ETF) is an important factor for the postoperative success after tympanoplasty, though much debates have been reported. In this study, we investigated the tympanogram changes after tympanoplasty, indirectly checking up ETF, to find out the relationship between tympanogram changes and associated factors of tympanoplasty. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Included in this study were 238 cases of tympanoplasty (canal wall up mastoidectomy with tympanoplasty type I or tympanoplasty type I only) performed by one surgeon for chronic otitis media from January, 2012 to June, 2017. In all cases, tympanometric tests were undertaken at one month, three month, six month, and one year post-operatively, and pure tone audiometry tests were taken at 1 year, post operatively. RESULTS: The average hearing level and air-bone gap were 41.8±19.7 dB, and 17.1±9.3 dB, pre-operatively, and 29.9±21.1 dB, and 6.9±8.5 dB, 1 year post-operatively, respectively. Most of the cases showed improvement in hearing. The results of tympanometry showed that hearing improvement was greater for the A type than for the B or C type (p<0.001). The smaller the size of the tympanic membrane was, the higher, the type A tympanogram appeared to be (p=0.008). CONCLUSION: The estimation of pre-operative ETF using post-operative tympanogram changes can give insight to the degree and process of recovery of the normal middle ear after tympanoplasty.
Acoustic Impedance Tests ; Audiometry ; Ear, Middle ; Eustachian Tube ; Hearing ; Methods ; Otitis Media ; Otitis ; Prognosis ; Tympanic Membrane ; Tympanoplasty

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate and report the long-term results of the butterfly cartilage tympanoplasty. Short-term and long-term hearing outcomes were compared according to age and perforation location as well. METHODS: Ninety-three patients who were diagnosed with noncomplicated chronic otitis media and underwent microscopic transcanal butterfly cartilage tympanoplasty due to anterior, posterior, and central tympanic membrane perforation were included. Age, gender, follow-up time, pre- and postoperative pure tone audiometry thresholds (both air and bone conduction), pre- and postoperative air-bone gaps (ABGs), if any residual perforation was noted. RESULTS: At the end of the follow-up period, successful closure occurred in 88 of 93 patients and success rate is 94.6%. In all patients, including those with residual perforations, the mean preoperative bone conduction threshold was 15.9 dB (range, 5 to 50 dB) among all groups whereas mean air conduction threshold was 36.4±15.1 dB (range, 10 to 90 dB) preoperatively and 28.8±14.3 dB in 6th month follow-up and 24.9±14.1 dB 24th month follow-up. Preoperative mean ABG was 22.1±7.1 dB (range, 5 to 40 dB) whereas 13.3±5.9 dB 6 months after surgery and 11.9±5.5 dB 24 months after surgery. There was a significant difference between pre- and postoperative ABG in both 6th and 24th month follow-up (P(6 mo-24 mo) < 0.05). Furthermore, preoperative mean air conduction differed significantly from postoperative 6th and 24th month follow-up mean air conduction thresholds (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: We suggested that butterfly cartilage tympanoplasty can be safely performed in small, moderate, and even large perforations, as the hearing outcomes and successful closure rate are similar to those of other surgical methods. Moreover, it can be performed under local anaesthesia and it has low complication rates.
Audiometry ; Bone Conduction ; Butterflies* ; Cartilage* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hearing ; Humans ; Methods* ; Otitis Media ; Tympanic Membrane Perforation ; Tympanoplasty*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Although canal wall up mastoidectomy (CWUM) has been performed frequently as a treatment for chronic otitis media (COM), the necessity of CWUM for non-cholesteatomatous COM (NCCOM) is still controversial. Since elderly people often have systemic problems, there is a high likelihood of side effects after general anesthesia, so it is important to judge the necessity of mastoidectomy. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of CWUM for the treatment of NCCOM in patients over 65 years of age. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Forty-two cases of CWUM with tympanoplasty type I performed as a treatment for NCCOM from 2007 through 2016 were reviewed retrospectively. Pure tone audiometry was performed preoperatively and postoperatively, and preoperative temporal bone CT was used to evaluate the mastoid status. The valsalva maneuver (VM) was used to evaluate the eustachian tube function. RESULTS: The total number of patients was 42 and the success rate of eardrum repair was 92.8%. Comparison of hearing results taken preoperatively and postoperatively showed significant hearing improvement in both air conduction and air-bone gap. When hearing results were compared according to the mastoid status and the response of VM, there were no significant differences. CONCLUSION: Mastoidectomy combined with tympanoplasty type I showed a high success rate of ear drum repair and good hearing improvement, with no critical side effects. Therefore, mastoidectomy does not need to be limited by one's old age. Adequate mastoidectomy after proper consideration of the mastoid status will be helpful in the treatment of the disease.
Aged ; Anesthesia, General ; Audiometry ; Ear ; Eustachian Tube ; Hearing* ; Humans ; Mastoid ; Methods ; Otitis Media* ; Otitis* ; Retrospective Studies ; Temporal Bone ; Tympanic Membrane ; Tympanoplasty* ; Valsalva Maneuver