Age as a factor in the success of tympanoplasty: a comparison of outcomes in the young and old.

In order to determine if age is a factor in healing after tympanic membrane grafting, the author compared the results of 163 consecutive type I tympanoplasties performed on patients aged 20 to 40 with those of 97 consecutive type I tympanoplasties performed on patients aged 65 and older. The tympanoplasties were performed over a 5-year period. The postoperative followup period ranged from 6 to 10 years. The author found no difference in the success or failure of the graft-take rates between the two groups. Therefore, it would appear that in general, age is not a factor in the success or failure of healing following tympanoplasty surgery.