Use of micro-sliced homograft cartilage plates in tympanoplasty.

We described our experiences in the use of micro-sliced septal cartilage homografts in tympanoplasty. The cartilage plates (0.1-0.5 mm thick) previously prepared with our method by use of a dermatome were used for the three purposes 1) to reconstruct the attic wall defect, 2) to prevent the retraction of the grafted fascia in myringoplasty, and 3) to prevent the displacement of the columella and the retraction of the grafted fascia in columella-type tympanoplasty. There have been no postoperative infections or extrusions in our 142 cases. These cartilage plates are considered to be very convenient in tympanoplasty.