title: Chronic tympanic membrane perforation in an animal model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to revalidate and reproduce a chronic tympanic membrane perforation animal model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, animal study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight female chinchillas underwent bilateral thermal myringotomy. The edges of the perforation were folded inward using microflaps. The perforations were followed over time to monitor the course of closure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two animals were excluded from the study because of ear infection. None of the other tympanic membrane perforations remained open. The closing time varied from 4 to 6 weeks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings demonstrate that the thermal myringotomy combined with infolding technique is not a reliable and consistent method to create a chronic tympanic membrane perforation. The closing time is shorter than expected and varies among the study subjects. There is a clear need for developing a reliable chronic tympanic membrane perforation model.
authors.affiliation: McGill Auditory Sciences Laboratory, Montreal Children's Hospital, McGill University Health Center, Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Nader
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Emami
authors.affiliation: McGill Auditory Sciences Laboratory, Montreal Children's Hospital, McGill University Health Center, Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Melvin D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Schloss
authors.affiliation: McGill Auditory Sciences Laboratory, Montreal Children's Hospital, McGill University Health Center, Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Electronic address: sam.daniel@mcgill.ca.
authors.forename: Sam J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Daniel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002682:Chinchilla; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004564:Electrocoagulation; D005260:Female; D023421:Models, Animal; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014432:Tympanic Membrane / Q000601:surgery*; D018058:Tympanic Membrane Perforation / Q000601:surgery*; D014945:Wound Healing
keywords: Animal model; Chronic; Tympanic membrane perforation