Myringoplasty--effects on hearing and contributing factors.

Indications for myringoplasty are chronic otorrhoea and hearing impairment. Some authors have described poor postoperative hearing results and sensorineural hearing loss associated with the surgery, and question the indication for myringoplasty on an ear with normal hearing (< 25 dB). This study of 211 consecutive myringoplasties performed over 1 year details the 'take rate,' hearing gains and losses, and factors found to influence the above. The take rate of 78% is comparable with figures in the literature. The most significant factors influencing this are the grade of the surgeon and the size of the perforation. The average pre-operative air-bone gap was closed from 23.7 dB to 13.9 dB with a 4.5% incidence of postoperative sensorineural hearing loss. Postoperatively 77.9% of patients had an air-bone gap of less than 20 dB. We conclude that myringoplasty is a beneficial procedure, closing the tympanic membrane and improving the hearing.