Experience with Overlay Tympanoplasty in 83 Chinese Patients

BackgroundIn many European and American hospitals, represented by the House Ear Clinic (HEC), the overlay tympanoplasty is used with rare exception, with simultaneous canal wall up or down mastoidectomy being taken if needed. In China, underlay tympanoplasty is used across the country, but the overlay technique is used rarely. The aim of the current study was to report the authors’ experience with overlay tympanoplasty in 83 Chinese patients and study its value.MethodsEight-three patients (86 ears) underwent overlay tympanoplasty in accordance to the standard of the HEC. The patients were followed up and conditions of the external auditory canal, tympanic membrane and hearing were reviewed and analyzed.ResultsAll patients gained stage I incision healing. The size of external auditory canal and tympanic membrane morphology were satisfactory. Hearing either remained unchanged or improved. There were no hearing deterioration or serious complications.ConclusionsOverlay tympanoplasty carries positive value in treating chronic otitis media and cholesteatoma with the merits of procedure standardization, adequate operative exposure, thorough disease elimination and extensive adaptation.