Fat graft myringoplasty: a cost-effective but underused procedure.

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this study was to evaluate the success of fat graft myringoplasty and to discuss the utilities and advantages of a fat graft in primary versus revision myringoplasties.

METHODS

Eighteen patients who had not had previous otological surgery, and twelve patients whose tympanic membrane perforations have persisted despite myringoplasty with temporalis fascia were included in this prospective clinical trial. All patients were treated by fat graft myringoplasty and followed up for one year.

RESULTS

Successful closure of the perforation was obtained in 82.4 per cent of the ears at the final follow up. The success rate in the group of patients who had not had previous otological surgery was higher than those of revision cases.

CONCLUSIONS

Adipose tissue provides the basic requirements for grafting of the tympanic membrane, with its own favourable characteristics. Fat graft myringoplasty is a cost-effective alternative in small perforations of the tympanic membrane, including revision cases.