A PROSPECTIVE COMPARATIVE STUDY OF A-B GAP IMPROVEMENT IN PURE TONE AUDIOMETRY BETWEEN CSOM CASES UNDERGOING TYPE 1 TYMPANOPLASTY USING TRAGAL PERICHONDRIUM AND TEMPORALIS FASCIA GRAFT

Abstract

Aim: To ascertain whether the A-B gap improvement of tragal perichondrial grafting is better than TF grafting in CSOM patients undergoing type 1 tympanoplasty by underlay technique.

Methodology: A prospective comparative study was done in CSOM patients presenting to a tertiary health care establishment. 60 patients underwent type 1 tympanoplasty, using TF graft in 30 and tragal perichondrial graft in 30 patients. Both groups of patients were compared in terms of A-B gap improvement following surgery.

Results: A-B gap improvement of all the 60 patients were analysed. 8(26.67%) patients had A-B gap improvement </= 15dB in both the tragal perichondrium and TF graft group. Rest 22(73.33%) patients had A-B gap improvement of 16-25dB in either group. In cartilage group, 14 out of 15 patients i.e, 93.33%, while in Fascia group, 10 out of 12 pateints i.e, 83.33% patients who had perforation involving anterior quadrant had A-B gap closure between 16-25dB post- operatively. Therefore, cartilage graft showed better A-B gap closure than fascia graft in anterior quadrant.

When both the quadrants were taken into consideration, 11 out 17 i.e, 65% patients in fascia group while 8 out of 13 i.e, 61% patients in cartilage group showed AB gap closure between 16-25dB. Therefore, fascia graft showed better result.

Conclusions: This study showed that A-B gap improvement is similar in CSOM patients undergoing type 1 tympanoplasty using either TF or tragal perichondrial graft. Either of these can be good for improving the hearing in CSOM patients but tragal cartilage with perichodrium showed better results with perforation involving anterior quadrants.