Objective: To evaluate the long-term results of fat graft myringoplasty in adult and pediatric populations.
Design: Prospective case series study.
Main outcome measures: Patients with chronic tympanic membrane perforations were considered candidates for fat graft myringoplasty. Excluded were patients with purulent discharge, suspected ossicular disease, suspected cholesteatoma, or a perforation diameter greater than 6.5 mm. Fat was harvested from the ear lobule or subcutaneous tissue just posterior-inferior to the lobule.
Results: The study population comprised 27 adults and 11 children. Twenty-eight perforations were small (73.7%) and 10 were large (26.3%). Altogether, 31 of 38 perforations were successfully repaired (81.6%), including 22 of 28 small perforations (78.6%) and 9 of 10 large perforations (90%). Assessment by age showed that 23 of 27 perforations of the adults (85.2%) and 8 of 11 perforations of the children (72.7%) successfully closed (p = .648). Follow-up ranged from 25 to 53 months (mean 40.6 +/- 8.3 months). No recurrence of the perforation during the follow-up period was recorded if the initial results were successful. The speech reception threshold improved significantly (18.5 +/- 7.7 dB vs 23.5 +/- 8 dB; p = .043). No significant sensorineural hearing loss occurred.
Conclusions: Fat graft myringoplasty is a reliable technique for the closure of small- and medium-sized perforations. The grafting results showed excellent long-term durability. Given the simplicity of the technique, its short duration, and the favourable hearing results, fat graft myringoplasty should be considered the procedure of choice in patients with suitable perforations and when not otherwise contraindicated.