Conclusion: High success rates of recovery of hearing level in type III and IV tympanoplasty could be achieved by this stabilization technique for columella using trimmed autologous temporal fascia.
Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate a new stabilization technique for columella using trimmed autologous temporal fascia in type III and IV tympanoplasty.
Patients and methods: A total of 55 patients (21 male, 34 female, aged 4-85 years) with chronic otitis media (n=16) and cholesteatoma (n=39) underwent tympanoplasty using this new stabilization technique for columella. Thirty-one patients underwent type III tympanoplasty and 24 patients underwent type IV tympanoplasty. Forty-two patients underwent a staged operation and 13 patients underwent a single operation. The observation period was 3.5 years from 6 months after the last operation.
Results: The overall success rates in type III and IV tympanoplasty were 87.1% (27/31) and 83.3% (20/24), respectively. Two of eight patients for whom the procedure was unsuccessful underwent reoperation and they acquired good hearing.