title: A randomized prospective trial of a novel device for measuring perforation size during inlay 'butterfly' myringoplasty.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study introduces a new device to facilitate perforation size measurement during "butterfly" myringoplasty. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the use of 'otological compass' on short-term results of inlay cartilaginous 'butterfly' tympanoplasty technique in adult patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, randomized, controlled, blinded.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study included 25 patients who underwent inlay cartilage myringoplasty. All operations were performed under general anesthesia by the same surgeon with a microscope-assisted approach. The patients were divided randomly and consecutively into two groups: Group 1 (n=12) had perforation dimensions and shape measured using the Otologic Compass (OC) and the control group (n=13) had perforation measured by means of a Fisch elevator. The duration of surgery, number of trials for correct placement of the cartilage graft, results and complications of the surgery were evaluated and compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean follow-up duration was 6 months. Groups were similar in terms of age and perforation diameters (p>0.05). Average number of cartilage shaping before satisfactory graft fitting was significantly fewer in the OC group: 1.1 ± 0.3 and 2.2 ± 0.6 trials for OC and control groups, respectively (p<0.001). Mean duration of preparation and satisfactory graft fitting was 9.6 ± 4.2 minutes in the OC group whereas it was 18.1 ± 5.2 minutes for the control group. Operative duration was significantly shorter in the OC group (p<0.001). At the end of the follow-up period, successful closure occurred 91.7% and 84.6% patients in the OC and control groups, respectively (p>0.05). The mean preoperative to postoperative three-tone air-bone gap improved 7.9 dB and 9.0 dB in OC and control groups, respectively (p>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows that OC presents as a useful tool that expedites and refines butterfly myringoplasty procedure. The number of cartilage shaping prior to satisfactory graft fitting revealed significantly better results: almost all surgeries in the OC group were complete after a single cartilage shaping attempt.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Bezmiâlem Vakif University, Fatih, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sabri Baki
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Eren
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Bezmiâlem Vakif University, Fatih, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Selahattin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tugrul
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Bezmiâlem Vakif University, Fatih, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: berkeozucer@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Berke
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ozucer
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Bayrampasa State Hospital, Bayrampasa, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Remzi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dogan
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Bezmiâlem Vakif University, Fatih, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Orhan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ozturan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D009225:Myringoplasty / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018058:Tympanic Membrane Perforation / Q000473:pathology*