Full-Thickness Skin Graft for Closure of Tympanic Membrane Perforations: Follow-up Investigation of 140 Cases

Abstract

During the years 1959–1960, 156 patients have undergone tympanoplastic operation type I using retroauricular skin. 140 of these cases have been followed up with an observation time of between 23/4 and 43/4 years.

In 60 per cent there has been a primary healing. A control examination about 4 years later showed the healing to be 33 per cent. This figure will probably be still lower as many transplants have, more or less, dermatitic changes.