Three-point fix tympanoplasty.
CONCLUSIONS
The three-point fix tympanoplasty procedure is a stable and effective technique - with a high degree of graft take and satisfactory hearing results - for reconstruction of most tympanic membrane (TM) perforations.


OBJECTIVE
It is difficult to repair a TM perforation, including subtotal perforation, involving the anterior part of the annulus. Reperforation can occur when an underlay graft technique is used. An overlay graft technique may result in anterior blunting/lateralization. We introduce a three-point fix tympanoplasty procedure, which can provide additional support to yield a stable graft.


METHODS
The study enrolled a total of 234 patients who underwent a three-point fix tympanoplasty procedure from November 2005 to June 2011. Anatomic success was defined as an intact, repaired TM, while functional success was defined as a significant decrease in the air-bone gap at the end of follow-up compared with preoperative hearing (air-bone gap). The complication rate was also analyzed.


RESULTS
The anatomic success rate was 93.2% (218/234 patients). The functional success rate after an average of 1 year was 73.5%. The postoperative average pure-tone air-bone gap (15.4 ± 11.4 dB) decreased successfully in comparison with the preoperative average air-bone gap (20.6 ± 12.1 dB). There were few postoperative complications (7.7%).
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, 1Myongji Hospital , Goyang, Gyeonggi-do.
Dae Bo
DB
Shim
Hyun Ji
HJ
Kim
Mi Joo
MJ
Kim
In Seok
IS
Moon
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D038781:Otoscopy; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018058:Tympanic Membrane Perforation / Q000601:surgery*; D014433:Tympanoplasty / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
Tympanic membrane perforation; air–bone gap; fascia; graft technique