title: Myringoplasty for the anterior perforation: experience with the Kerr flap.
abstract: Surgical closure of the anteriorly located tympanic membrane perforation can present a problem. The lack of anterior support for the graft frequently leads to graft failure if an underlay method is used whereas anterior blunting is a complication of onlay techniques in this situation. The experience with the Kerr flap, an underlay graft fashioned to include a tab of fascia which is placed laterally under the annulus and the anterior meatal skin, is presented. This method gave a 97.5 percent closure rate with no cases of anterior marginal blunting and a mean auditory threshold gain of 8.5 dB (95 percent confidence limits 5 to 11.9 dB, P less than 0.01) was achieved at the frequencies tested. The use of the Kerr flap is recommended when repairing the anteriorly placed tympanic membrane perforation.
authors.affiliation: Gloucester Royal Hospital.
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Sharp
authors.forename: T F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Terzis
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Robinson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009225:Myringoplasty / Q000379:methods*; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000379:methods*; D014432:Tympanic Membrane / Q000293:injuries*