Endoscopic Tympanoplasty

Method With clean endoscopic visualization, ossiculoplasty was performed by inserting a trimmed tragal cartilage through the myringotomy perforation made by laser-assisted myringotomy. Two types of ossiculoplasty were performed: columella reconstruction and interposition. The tympanic membrane was covered with a chitin membrane or sealed with a small piece of perichondrium from the tragal cartilage.

Objective We describe our initial experience with endoscopic transtympanic tympanoplasty and evaluate whether this approach is adequate and minimally invasive in the treatment of conductive hearing loss.

Result Endoscopic transtympanic tympanoplasty with columella and endoscopic transtympanic tympanoplasty with interposition were performed in seven and two patients, respectively. Insertion of the cartilage was performed without conversion to a conventional otomicroscopic technique. The average hearing level before the operation was 59 dB. After the endoscopic transtympanic tympanoplasty, the average improved to the level of 27 dB, with an average air-bone gap of 11 dB. The myringotomy perforation was closed within 2 to 3 weeks.

Conclusion As opposed to conventional methods, this procedure does not require surgical exposure such as otosclerosis drilling and skin incision, and avoids the substantial risk of unnecessary injury to the chorda tympani. Endoscopic transtympanic tympanoplasty for a disrupted ossicular chain is an adequate and minimally invasive procedure and should prove to be a useful surgical procedure in future endoscopic tympanoplasty.