Myringoplasty With A Free Graft From the External Auditory Canal

Abstract

The conspicuous anatomical similarity between eardrum tissue and the skin of the auditory canal leads to the theoretical deduction that this skin should be an excellent material for myringoplasty. It might likewise be assumed that in view of the exceptional viability of such skin even on a poorly supplied graft bed, myringoplasty could be done successfully with the use of a free graft.

In the hope of confirming these assumptions, a series of operations was undertaken with the use of a reported method employing free grafts from the auditory canal. The series comprises 24 cases of major eardrum perforations which, after the operation, were subjected to regular follow-ups with audiometric examinations and eardrum microscopy for at least three months. The findings indicate that genuine in growth of transplanted tissue occurs. More than 80 per cent of the cases showed healing of the eardrum. As regards the cases with intact ossicular chains, hearing improvement was noted in approximately 80 per cent and normalization of the hearing in one-half. These results serve to confirm the theoretical deduction that the skin of the auditory canal is an ideal substitute for eardrum tissue.