Interlay Technique Tympanoplasty: Surgical Difficulties with Variable Grafts

Abstract

Background: Perforation of the tympanic membrane is most commonly the result of chronic ear disease. However, it can also result from various forms of trauma, which includes iatrogenic and direct physical injuries, burns, scalds and pressure effects. Most of these perforations heal spontaneously, whereas the remaining long-standing perforations that lead to recurrent ear discharge need tympanoplasty. Objectives: the aim of this study was to evaluate the results of interlay technique of tympanoplasty with respect to graft uptake and hearing status and to compare surgical difficulties between variable grafts. Patients and Methods: A total of 20 Patients included in the study were 6 males and 14 females, their age ranged from 10 years to 50 years presented with dry large central tympanic membrane perforations being inactive for at least one month without treatment were operated by interlay myringoplasty. Results: In our study, we recorded the success rate to be 90% in interlay myringoplasty and this is in accordance with the success rate reported by other studies using interlay technique. Conclusions: Interlay tympanoplasty results in excellent graft uptake and good post operative air bone gap (ABG) closure. A main advantage of this technique includes prevention of anterior blunting, lateralization and medialization of graft. Interlay tympanoplasty abolishes chances of epithelial cyst formation as in overlay technique and myringitis due to endothelium overgrowth as in underlay technique