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Objective: To determine de effectiveness of tragal cartilage graft for the reconstruction of the tympanic membrane and the effects on sound transmission. Material and method: A prospective study was done including all the patients with tympanic perforation attended at the department of Otolaryngology from November 2010 to June 2012 that needed tympanoplasty as unique or complementary procedure. Results: The study included 52 patients, 25 women; 98% of patients achieved total integrity of the graft. In the basal audiogram we found a prevalence of medium hearing loss; after the study the average gain were 40dB in the audiogram. Conclusions: Tragal cartilage graft is an effective material for the reconstruction of the tympanic membrane with good audiological results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]