Anatomic and Functional Results of Cartilage Type 1 Tympanoplasty in Children and the Evaluation of the Success of Surgery with Parental Perceptions

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to determine the anatomic and functional results of cartilage Type 1 tympanoplasty in children and to evaluate the success of surgery with parental perceptions. Methods:Only pediatric patients who had undergone cartilage Type 1 tympanoplasty were included in this study. Patients older than 16 years and patients who had otorrhoea during the previous month, chronic otitis media with cholesteatoma and patients who had undergone mastoidectomy or ossiculopasty were excluded. The 'anatomical' success was accepted as an intact graft in the last control in the at least 6 th month postoperatively. A satisfaction questionnaire with four questions about the perceptual results of surgical intervention was applied to the patients' parents on the telephone. Results:In total, 44 ears of 41 cases (22 male 19 female) were included in the study. The mean age was 13.2±2.7 (8-16) and the mean follow-up time was 17 (7-36) months. Anatomical success rate was 88.6% (39/44). As a preoperative mean, the pure tone hearing threshold was 30.7±7.7 dB and the postoperative mean pure-tone hearing threshold was 18.8±7.8 dB. Among the operated ears, 88.6% (39/44) of the perforations were treated successfully. Of the 41 paediatric patients' parents, only 28 (68.2%) could be reached by telephone; nineteen (68%) of the 28 parents contacted thought that the hearing level had improved postoperatively and only 10 parents (35%) stated that his/her child could attend a preoperatively-restricted activity postoperatively. Conclusion:Outcomes of cartilage tympanoplasty in children satisfy both surgeons and parents. Chronic otitis media in children must be managed with surgery as soon as favourable conditions are provided.