Bilateral same-day surgery for bilateral perforated chronic otitis media: Inlay butterfly cartilage myringoplasty.

OBJECTIVE

Conventional bilateral same-day tympanoplasty or myringoplasty has been rarely performed because of the risk of postoperative complications. Inlay butterfly cartilage myringoplasty (IBCM) has been shown effective for same-day closure of bilateral tympanic membrane perforations and is a quicker and more comfortable procedure for the patient. Immediate postoperative hearing is not compromised by packing materials because no external canal packing or middle ear support is required. We assessed the efficacy and safety of bilateral same day IBCM.

STUDY DESIGN

Case series with chart review.

SETTING

Tertiary referral center.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Of the 81 patients (age range, 9-64 years) who underwent conventional tympanoplasty/mastoidectomy for bilateral perforated chronic otitis media between June 2005 and September 2009, 17 with small-to-medium perforations and no history of otorrhea underwent same-day cartilage IBCM on the contralateral ear. Median follow-up duration was 13.0 months.

RESULTS

The graft take rate was 100 percent, with no retraction pockets or displaced grafts observed during follow-up. Mean air-bone gap was improved from 15.8 to 8.4 dB. Twelve patients had an average air-bone gap between 0 and 10 dB, three between 11 and 20 dB, and two between 21 and 30 dB. Two patients had myringitis postoperatively, but it improved with antibiotic treatment.

CONCLUSION

Bilateral same-day IBCM offers favorable outcomes in selected patients.