Our Summary

This research paper evaluates the effectiveness of a type of ear surgery, known as endoscopic type 1 cartilage tympanoplasty, in children. This procedure involves using cartilage grafts to repair damage to the eardrum, and is becoming more common.

The study looked at patients under 18 years old who had undergone this surgery between January 2013 and February 2019. The success of the surgery was measured by whether the graft stayed intact and how much it improved the patient’s hearing.

The study included 56 patients in total, with 62 ears undergoing the procedure. The graft remained intact in 91.9% of cases. Measurements of hearing ability showed that the surgery significantly improved the patients’ ability to hear sounds conducted through the air, and the gap between hearing sounds conducted through the air and through the bone. There was no significant change in the ability to hear sounds conducted through the bone.

Overall, the surgery resulted in an average hearing improvement of 12.1 decibels, and was considered functionally successful in 72.5% of cases. The authors conclude that this minimally invasive surgery is effective in improving both the structure of the ear and hearing ability in children.

FAQs

  1. What is endoscopic type 1 cartilage tympanoplasty and how does it work?
  2. What were the findings of the study regarding the effectiveness of endoscopic type 1 cartilage tympanoplasty in children?
  3. What was the average improvement in hearing after the surgery according to the study?

Doctor’s Tip

A doctor might tell a patient undergoing tympanoplasty to follow post-operative care instructions carefully, including avoiding getting water in the ear, not blowing the nose too forcefully, and not engaging in activities that could put pressure on the ear. It is also important to attend follow-up appointments to ensure proper healing and monitor hearing improvement.

Suitable For

Patients who are typically recommended tympanoplasty are those with a perforated eardrum, chronic ear infections, hearing loss, or other issues related to the middle ear. In the case of children, tympanoplasty may be recommended if they have persistent ear infections, hearing loss, or other middle ear problems that have not improved with other treatments. This study suggests that endoscopic type 1 cartilage tympanoplasty can be an effective treatment option for children with these issues.

Timeline

Before tympanoplasty:

  1. Patient experiences symptoms such as ear pain, hearing loss, ringing in the ear, and fluid drainage from the ear.
  2. Patient undergoes a physical examination and hearing tests to determine the extent of the ear damage.
  3. Patient may be prescribed antibiotics or ear drops to treat any infection present in the ear.
  4. If the damage to the eardrum is significant, the patient may be recommended for tympanoplasty surgery.

After tympanoplasty:

  1. Patient undergoes tympanoplasty surgery, where a graft is used to repair the eardrum.
  2. Patient may experience some discomfort and swelling in the ear following the surgery.
  3. Patient is advised to avoid activities that could put pressure on the ear, such as heavy lifting or blowing their nose forcefully.
  4. Patient attends follow-up appointments with their doctor to monitor the healing process and assess hearing improvement.
  5. Over time, the patient’s hearing gradually improves as the eardrum heals and the graft integrates into the ear tissue.
  6. Patient may need to undergo hearing tests to evaluate the success of the surgery and any further treatment needed.

What to Ask Your Doctor

  1. What does the tympanoplasty procedure involve?
  2. What are the risks and potential complications associated with tympanoplasty?
  3. How long is the recovery period after tympanoplasty?
  4. What type of anesthesia will be used during the surgery?
  5. How successful is tympanoplasty in improving hearing ability?
  6. Are there any alternative treatments to tympanoplasty that I should consider?
  7. How long do the results of tympanoplasty typically last?
  8. Will I need to follow any special instructions or precautions after the surgery?
  9. What is the long-term outlook for my ear health after undergoing tympanoplasty?
  10. Can you provide me with more information about the specific type of tympanoplasty procedure that will be performed on me?

Reference

Authors: Dursun E, Demir E, Terzi S, Erdivanlı ÖÇ, Coşkun ZÖ, Balaban GA, Çeliker M. Journal: Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2020 Apr;131:109854. doi: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2019.109854. Epub 2020 Jan 2. PMID: 31918245