[Tympanoplasty with tragus cartilage transplant: "cartilage cover plasty"].

Transplants composed in three layers of tragus cartilage and perichondrium are ideally suited for eardrum transplants. They are easily prepared, well-nourished, stable and withstand retraction tendencies due to negative middle ear pressure. One overlapping perichondrium layer forms, so to speak, the live rail for the eardrum epithelium. To this perichondrium layer the cartilage disk is safely attached. The cartilage disk attached to its outer perichondrium layer--also covered by the perichondrium towards the middle ear--is thus fastened like a circular tape in the eardrum frame similar to the foot plate of the stapes. The eardrum seal is safe; in 87 operations we observed only one case of the edge coming away which was due to the transplant being too small. This type of transplant has proved its worth especially when reconstructing the ossicle chain with column protheses (TORP, PORP). The excellent hearing results may be explained by the optimum transformation of air pressure from the large cartilage via the medium-sized prosthesis screen, which is attached to the surface, to the small foot plate of the stapes. The "tragus" transplant can also be used in case of a Type III interposition of incus.