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Objective The aim of the present study is to compare the tympanometric and functional findings of cartilage palisade tympanoplasty with those of tympanoplasty with temporalis fascia grafting after one-stage surgery in children with tensa cholesteatoma. Study design In children aged 5 to 15 years (mean, 9.5 years) with tensa cholesteatoma, cartilage palisade tympanoplasty was performed in 32 ears and fascia tympanoplasty in 29 ears. Tympanometry was performed in 31 ears with cartilage palisade tympanoplasty (the palisade group) and 28 ears with fascia tympanoplasty (the fascia group) at follow-up a median of 48 months after surgical removal of the cholesteatoma (range, 3-75 months). Main outcome measures Postoperative perforations, tympanometric parameters (tympanogram type, compliance, tympanometric width), and hearing. Results All postoperative re-perforations occurred in the fascia group. However, there was no difference between the palisade group and the fascia group in terms of tympanometric parameters, nor between the two groups when dividing into tensa retraction and sinus cholesteatoma subgroups. When comparing the types of tympanoplasty, the type II group reconstructed with cartilage palisades contained a higher number of ears with a normal compliance (0.2-1.6 mL) but a higher number of ears with a tympanometric width of more than 150 mmH2O. Regarding the number of ears with normal tympanometries, there was no significant difference between the palisade and the fascia group. The late functional hearing results were better in ears reconstructed with cartilage palisades, with functional success in 71%, compared with 54% in the group with fascia grafting. This difference in functional results was particularly pronounced in ears with an abnormal tympanogram (68% vs. 29%). Conclusion Compared to fascia grafting, the present study showed better late functional hearing results after drum reconstruction using cartilage palisades, despite comparable tympanometric findings. Cartilage palisade reconstruction seems to provide better functional results, especially in ears with a poor tubal function, which is the common situation after cholesteatoma surgery.

Objectives/Hypothesis: To compare cartilage palisades with fascia grafting in reconstruction of the eardrum after surgery for sinus or tensa retraction cholesteatoma in children, with respect to long-term postoperative eardrum retraction and perforation, cholesteatoma recurrence, and hearing acuity. Methods: A total of 64 children underwent surgery for either sinus or tensa retraction cholesteatoma during the period 1995 to 2000 (mean age 9 years, range 5–15). The eardrum was reconstructed using cartilage palisades in 32 children (32 ears) and fascia or perichondrium in 32 children (33 ears). The patients were followed for at least one year postoperatively and re-evaluated 4 years after surgery, and again recently at a mean of 10 years. The main outcome measures were postoperative drum retraction and perforation, cholesteatoma recurrence, and hearing acuity (pure tone average, speech reception threshold, and pure tone air-bone gap). Results: All but two patients in both groups attended the 10-year follow-up examination (94% attendance). The mean overall follow-up period was 119 months (115 months in the palisade and 125 months in the fascia group). Total number of retractions during follow-up and at the 10-year examination was six (19%) for the palisade group and 14 (42%) for the fascia group (P = .03; chi-square test). The accumulated numbers for a perforation were four (13%) for the palisade group and seven (21%) for the fascia group (difference not significant). Two residual cholesteatomas, which are not related to the graft material, occurred in the palisade group (6%), whereas both recurrencies, which may be related to the graft material, occurred in the fascia group (6%). The hearing acuity for children operated on for a sinus cholesteatoma and for children with type III tympanoplasties was significantly better when cartilage palisade grafting had been employed. Conclusions: The cartilage palisade grafting technique appears superior with respect to prevention of long-term eardrum retraction. The occurrence of cholesteatoma recurrency and eardrum perforation seem to be independent of grafting material, although these results may be due to type 2 error (low number of ears). In sinus cholesteatoma surgery and in type III tympanoplasty, the long-term hearing results appear better when grafting cartilage palisades. Laryngoscope, 2009

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate whether reconstruction of the eardrum with palisade cartilage technique could prevent retraction of the new eardrum after surgery for sinus and tensa retraction cholesteatoma in children and to investigate the postoperative hearing. Study Design: In 32 children aged 5 to 15 years, operated on from June 1995 to October 2000 for cholesteatoma (21 with sinus cholesteatoma and 11 with tensa retraction cholesteatoma) the eardrum was reconstructed with the palisade cartilage technique. Postoperatively, the children were seen as outpatients and were recently reevaluated with otomicroscopy, tympanometry, and audiometry. All patients (100%) were reevaluated on an average of 37 months (range 3-63 months). Main Outcome Measures: Postoperative retractions, perforations, cholesteatoma recurrence, and hearing. Results: At the final examination, posterosuperior retraction was observed in two patients, both operated on for sinus cholesteatoma with reconstruction of the ossicular chain. In those cases, the palisades were not placed in the posterosuperior drilling defect behind the interpositioned incus. All the patients had an intact tympanic membrane at the final follow-up visit. One small perforation was surgically closed during the observation period. No patients developed cholesteatoma during the follow-up period. The postoperative hearing was good, and the hearing did not deteriorate with increasing observation time. Conclusions: The palisade technique effectively prevented postoperative retraction of the eardrum. The postoperative hearing was good.

To compare cartilage palisades with fascia grafting in reconstruction of the eardrum after surgery for sinus or tensa retraction cholesteatoma in children, with respect to long-term postoperative eardrum retraction and perforation, cholesteatoma recurrence, and hearing acuity.A total of 64 children underwent surgery for either sinus or tensa retraction cholesteatoma during the period 1995 to 2000 (mean age 9 years, range 5-15). The eardrum was reconstructed using cartilage palisades in 32 children (32 ears) and fascia or perichondrium in 32 children (33 ears). The patients were followed for at least one year postoperatively and re-evaluated 4 years after surgery, and again recently at a mean of 10 years. The main outcome measures were postoperative drum retraction and perforation, cholesteatoma recurrence, and hearing acuity (pure tone average, speech reception threshold, and pure tone air-bone gap).All but two patients in both groups attended the 10-year follow-up examination (94% attendance). The mean overall follow-up period was 119 months (115 months in the palisade and 125 months in the fascia group). Total number of retractions during follow-up and at the 10-year examination was six (19%) for the palisade group and 14 (42%) for the fascia group (P = .03; chi-square test). The accumulated numbers for a perforation were four (13%) for the palisade group and seven (21%) for the fascia group (difference not significant). Two residual cholesteatomas, which are not related to the graft material, occurred in the palisade group (6%), whereas both recurrencies, which may be related to the graft material, occurred in the fascia group (6%). The hearing acuity for children operated on for a sinus cholesteatoma and for children with type III tympanoplasties was significantly better when cartilage palisade grafting had been employed.The cartilage palisade grafting technique appears superior with respect to prevention of long-term eardrum retraction. The occurrence of cholesteatoma recurrency and eardrum perforation seem to be independent of grafting material, although these results may be due to type 2 error (low number of ears). In sinus cholesteatoma surgery and in type III tympanoplasty, the long-term hearing results appear better when grafting cartilage palisades.

To compare the Eustachian tube patency and function after tympanoplasty with either cartilage palisades or fascia grafting after one-stage surgery in children with tensa cholesteatoma.In children operated for tensa cholesteatoma, cartilage palisade tympanoplasty was performed in 32 ears and fascia tympanoplasty in 29 ears. The patency of the Eustachian tube was evaluated by the Valsalva maneuver before the operation, 1 to 3 months after the operation, and at a follow-up examination 46(1/2) months later (median). Eustachian tube function was evaluated by the nine-step inflation/deflation tympanometric test and the Toynbee test at the follow-up examination. Otomicroscopy and hearing evaluation were performed before and after surgery as well as at the follow-up.Eustachian tube patency and function. Hearing, postoperative eardrum perforation/retraction, and cholesteatoma recurrence.The Valsalva maneuver was positive in 30% of the ears before the operation, in 65% primarily after the operation, and in 78% at the follow-up examination. A poor tubal function was found in 57% at follow-up. Overall, the late functional hearing results were better in ears with a positive Valsalva maneuver. There were no differences in tubal patency or function in relation to graft material, cholesteatoma, and tympanoplasty type. In ears with a poor tubal function, the hearing results were significantly better in the palisade group (63% success), compared with the fascia group (17% success). All of the four perforations, most of the retractions, and a single moist eardrum were found in the fascia group at the reevaluation. We found no correlation between the condition of the eardrum and the Eustachian tube function at the last evaluation. However, in ears with a poor tubal function, a nonretracted, nonperforated drum was found with higher frequency in the palisade group. Decision matrix analysis showed that the last postoperative Valsalva maneuver was the best predictor of the drum condition at the reevaluation.The Eustachian tube patency frequently improves after tympanoplasty after cholesteatoma surgery in children, regardless of graft material. The patency and function of the Eustachian tube seem to be without relation to graft material, cholesteatoma, or tympanoplasty type. Cartilage palisade tympanoplasty may be a better reconstruction technique after cholesteatoma surgery, especially in ears with a poor tubal function.