Butterfly Cartilage Tympanoplasty Long-term Results: Excellent Treatment Method in Small and Medium Sized Perforations

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 (P6 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.