Tympanoplasty without use of gelfoam in the middle ear

ntroduction: In the conventional technique of tympanoplasty almost all of the ENT surgeons use gelfoam in the middle ear for supporting graft against margin of tympanic membrane perforation. In this study we didn’t use gelfoam in the middle ear and compared the results of graft success rate with two techniques. In this clinical trial, during 2 years 181 patients with chronic otitis media (COM) underwent tympanoplasty with underlay grafting. In 83 patients gelfoam was used in the middle ear for tympanoplasty or tympanomastoidectomy (CCTM, OCTM). In 98 patientswe did not use gelfoam in the middle ear. In the first group 59 and 24 patients underwent CCTM and OCTM respectively and in the second group 61 and 37 patients underwent CCTM and OCTM respectively. In the patients with using gelfoam, graft success rate was 91% for tympanoplasty and CCTM group and 83% for OCTM group. In patients without gelfoam, graft success rate was 89% in tympanoplasty and CCTM group and 84% in OCTM group. In this study, the graft success rate was similar in 2 groups. The advantage of this technique is rapid improvement of patients’ hearing after removal of the external ear canalrosebud. In addition, the reaction of immune system is less than usual technique. We conclude that this technique could be routinely used in tympanoplasty and tympanomastoidectoy.