Fat graft myringoplasty after unsuccessful tympanic membrane repair

• Published in: European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology Vol. 264; no. 10; pp. 1125 - 1128
• Main Authors: FIORINO, Francesco, BARBIERI, Franco
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin Springer 01-10-2007
• Subjects: Adipose Tissue - transplantation; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Ear, auditive nerve, cochleovestibular tract, facial nerve: diseases, semeiology; Female; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Myringoplasty - methods; Non tumoral diseases; Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures; Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Postoperative Complications - surgery; Reoperation; Treatment Failure; Tympanic Membrane Perforation - surgery; Tympanum; Adipose tissue; Middle ear disease; Revision myringoplasty; Fat graft; One-day surgery; Myringoplasty; Tympanum perforation; Treatment; Revision; Surgery; ENT disease; Graft; Tympanic membrane perforation; Repair
• ISSN: 0937-4477; 1434-4726
• DOI: 10.1007/s00405-007-0323-z

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of fat graft myringoplasty in repairing residual or recurrent tympanic membrane perforation. A retrospective analysis was performed on 31 patients, aged 25-57 years (mean 43.3), submitted to myringoplasty revision using fat graft. Fourteen were males and 17 females. Perforation size ranged from 1 to 5 mm. Follow-up time ranged from 4 to 62 months (mean 26 months). Fat graft myringoplasty was performed under local anesthesia, using ear lobe fat in 26 patients and abdominal fat in five patients closure of tympanic membrane perforation was achieved in 87.1% of ears. No modification of the hearing level was evidenced at the statistical analysis. Fat graft myringoplasty is a safe, effective and minimally invasive procedure, suitable to repair small residual/recurrent perforations of the tympanic membrane. The angiogenic properties of the fat are ideal to overcome the poor vascular supply in the vicinity of the tympanic membrane perforation.