A Comparative Study Between Cartilage Graft and Temporalis Fascia Graft in Type 1 Tympanoplasty

Abstract

Background: Type I tympanoplasty is commonly performed to repair tympanic membrane perforations in chronic otitis media. This study compared the anatomical and functional outcomes of cartilage and temporalis fascia grafts.

Materials and Methods: This prospective comparative study included 80 patients, equally divided into cartilage (Group A) and temporalis fascia (Group B) groups. Graft uptake, hearing improvement, air–bone gap (ABG) closure, operative duration, and postoperative complications were evaluated.

Results: Graft uptake at one and three months was 97.5% in Group A and 90.0% in Group B (p=0.16). At three months, hearing gain of 10–20 dB was achieved in 65.0% and 62.5% of patients, respectively (p=0.78). Mean ABG closure was 14.0 ± 4.0 dB and 13.6 ± 3.5 dB (p=0.63). Complication rates were 2.5% and 10.0%, while mean operative durations were 90 ± 12 and 95 ± 14 minutes, respectively. None of the intergroup differences were statistically significant.

Conclusion: Both graft materials achieved satisfactory outcomes. Cartilage showed numerically higher graft uptake and fewer complications, while hearing improvement remained comparable.