A Comparative Study of the Efficacy of Fat Plug Myringoplasty and Conventional Myringoplasty in Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media with Small Central Perforation

Chronic Otitis Media (COM) is a major cause of acquired hearing impairment especially in developing countries. Persistent perforations occur either due to improper treatment of recurrent otitis media or infected traumatic perforation. Myringoplasty, repair of the Tympanic membrane using autologous temporalis fascia, is the standard procedure for COM. Other graft materials commonly used include tragal perichondrium, tragal cartilage and adipose tissue. This prospective study aims to compare the surgical and audiological outcome of fat plug myringoplasty [FPM] and conventional myringoplasty using temporalis fascia [CM-TF] in COM with small dry central perforation. A total of 60 patients of COM with small dry central perforation, aged 16-60 years, during the study period of October 2013 to August 2015 were divided into two groups of 30 cases each. The first group underwent FPM while the second group underwent CM-TF. The graft uptake and hearing outcome [pre operative and 3 months post operative PTA] were assessed. The surgical outcome of FPM with graft uptake of 86.7% was comparable to CM-TF with a graft uptake of 90%. The mean post operative hearing gain in FPM was 3.43 +/- 2.81 dB which correlated well with that of CM-TF with 3.85 +/- 3.05 dB. The duration of hospital stay and operative time was significantly lower in FPM group. FPM can be safely performed in cases with dry, small central perforations of the tympanic membrane with outcomes comparable to CM-TF.