title: Results of myringoplasty operations in active and inactive ears in adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether the presence of aural discharge at the time of surgery adversely affects the success rate of myringoplasty operations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case series comparing the success rate of surgery in active and inactive ears.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data pertaining to 268 operations involving repair of the tympanic membrane without ossiculoplasty carried out in Edinburgh, United Kingdom, between 1999 and 2009 by one senior surgeon and trainees working under his supervision were collected prospectively. Other factors that might potentially influence the outcome of the surgery were investigated using logistical regression analysis. The main outcome measure was number of patients with an intact tympanic membrane 6 months after surgery in the two groups (active and inactive).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 268 operations carried out, 203 were successful, with an intact tympanic membrane, 6 months postoperatively, 43 had persistent perforations, and 22 patients were lost to follow-up before 6 months. The success rates for closure of the perforation at 6 months after surgery were 83% for inactive and 82% for active ears (P = .9).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is no clinically significant difference in the success rate for myringoplasty in patients whose ears are active or inactive at the time of surgery.
authors.affiliation: Otolaryngology Unit, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mills
authors.forename: Gundula
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Thiel
authors.forename: Nadtaya
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mills
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009225:Myringoplasty / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D038781:Otoscopy / Q000379:methods; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012008:Recurrence; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018058:Tympanic Membrane Perforation / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D006113:United Kingdom; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Myringoplasty; otitis media; suppurative; treatment outcome; tympanic membrane perforation