A rat model of chronic tympanic membrane perforation was developed to be used in the search of new materials for the sealing of these perforations. A longitudinal study was carried out in rats subjected to incisional myringotomy followed by the application of mitomycin C alone or with dexamethasone. Rats were checked at days 3, 7, 10, 14 and weekly thereafter until perforation closure, for up to 6 months. The addition of dexamethasone is a key component in order to obtain a chronic opening. Myringotomies treated with saline had a mean healing time of 8.5 days. At 8 weeks, between 62.5% and 77.7% of tympanic membranes treated with mitomycin C and dexamethasone remained perforated and at 6 months this number fell to 21.4%. This technique is able to maintain most tympanic membrane perforations patent for at least 8 weeks. This rat model is adequate for its use in preclinical or translational research.
Keywords: Animal model; Chronic tympanic membrane perforation; Dexamethasone; Mitomycin C; Myringotomy.