Desarda K. K.^a Bhisegaonkar D. A.^b Gill S.^b

• Professor and head department of ORL, KEM hospital, Pune.
• Chief residents department of ORL, KEM hospital.

This paper was read at AOI conference, Cochin, January 2000.

Abstract
The study presents six hundred ear operations of varied middle ear pathology using tragal cartilage and perichondrium as a choice graft. The technical advantages of tragal perichondrium graft in myringoplasty, ossiculoplasty, ossiousplasty, and mastoid cavity obliteration are discussed. The study was conducted at K.E.M. Hospital, ENT department during 1980 to 2000. we have recorded our observations and results and concluded that tragal perichondrium and cartilage is an ideal graft material for reconstructive tympanoplasty. The objective of study was to assess the efficacy of tragal perichondrium and cartilage, the functional capacity in restoring hearing acuity, it’s mechanical survival, it’s extrusion rate and it’s functional integrity in tympanomastoid reconstruction.

Keywords: Cartilage, Perichondrium, Sialastic.

Introduction
The technique of ‘Reconstructive Tympanoplasty’ has been improved and refined ever since the introduction of operative microscope. The methods of radical and modified radical mastoid operations have not changed for decades except for minor variations. The innumerable graft materials being used to restore the dry and functioning ear. The autologous, homologous and allograft, synthetic materials lik plastics, ceramics, hydroxyapatite and golds were used but none of these have established their universal acceptability as a proved graft except the autologous grafts (cartilage, ossicles, fascia). The functioning and survival of each graft material varies as each one has certain advantages ad disadvantages and technical problems during and after surgery.

We present our experince of twenty years (1980–2000) in using ‘Tragal Cartilage And Perichondrium’ in the reconstructive tympanoplasty. This study includes 600 cases of varied middle ear pathologies grouped in to four main divisions such as myringoplasty, ossiculoplasty, ossiousplasty (for defects in attic, posterosuperior quadrant, posterior canal wall and annular defects) and cavity obliterations. This study is not a comparative study to prove the superiority of any particular graft material over another.

This study includes 600 cases of varied middle ear pathologies of both safe and unsafe C.S.O.M. All cases were treated conservatively for prolonged time before being subjected for reconstruction. The special attention was paid to Eustachian tube function. The relevant investigations as routine otomicroscopy, mastoid X–rays, paranasal sinus X–rays, audiometries and blood biochemistry were done.

The study was designed in four groups. Group A – Myringoplasty (n=300), Group B–Ossiculoplasty (n=110), Group C – Ossiculoplasty (n=120), and Group D – Mastoid cavity obliteration (n=70) All cases were subjected for reconstruction after eradicating the middle ear pathology by various surgical approaches. The enomeatal (n=192), endaural (n=312), postaural (n=60) and transtympanic (n=36). The age group was 15 to 55 years and males were predominant. Most of these cases were done under local anaesthesia with sedation (n=480) and smaller group under general anaesthesia (n=120).

During the study it was observed that the middle ear showed different pathologies such as perforations (n=240), adhesive otitis media (n=24), tympanosclerosis (n=36) and cholesteatomas (n=120). Statistical Analysis was done in SPSS 10.0 using chi–square test.