Objective: To evaluate the graft success rate and hearing gain of endoscopic cartilage myringoplasty with preserving external auditory canal (EAC) skin for posterior marginal perforation. Materials and Methods: We performed a prospective study in 36 patients with posterior marginal perforation who underwent endoscopic cartilage modified inlay technique with preserving EAC skin. Patients were followed up for 12 months. Results: All the 36 patients with unilateral posterior marginal perforation were included in this study. Clinical inosculation of the perichondrium graft and remnant tympanic membrane (TM) occurred at 2 to 3 weeks postoperatively. Simultaneously, neovascularization was initiated at the perichondrium graft. The perichondrium graft had been clinically incorporated to the EAC skin at 2 to 3 weeks postoperatively, which could not be distinguished. At 12 months, residual perforation was seen in inferior margin in one but reperforation was not. The graft success rate was 97.2% (35/36). The mean preoperative air bone gap (ABG) was 29.7 ± 3.8 dB, and the mean postoperative ABG at 12 months was 15.2 ± 3.1 dB; the difference between these values was significant (P < .05; paired-samples t test). The successful surgery rate (postoperative ABG ≤ 20 dB) was 91.7% (33/36). No any intratympanic or EAC cholesteatoma was noted during the follow-up period. Conclusions: Endoscopic cartilage modified inlay technique with preserving EAC skin for repairing posterior marginal perforation is simple and minimally invasive technique, which had shorter operative time, similar graft success rate compared with raising a tympanomeatal flap techniques.
Keywords: cartilage; chronic perforation; external auditory canal skin; myringoplasty.