Clinical Research Directory

Outcomes of Cartilage Tympanoplasty in Children

This study evaluates the anatomical and hearing outcomes of cartilage tympanoplasty in pediatric patients with chronic tympanic membrane perforations. A perforation (hole) in the eardrum in children can lead to recurrent ear discharge, chronic middle-ear infections, and conductive hearing loss. Cartilage tympanoplasty is a surgical technique that uses autologous cartilage (the patient's own cartilage tissue) to reconstruct and seal the eardrum. Cartilage is known for its rigidity and resistance to retraction, which may offer advantages in children who frequently experience middle-ear pressure and ventilation issues. Children aged 8 to 18 years presenting with large, subtotal, or persistent dry central perforations will undergo cartilage tympanoplasty at Assiut University Hospitals. All participants will undergo standardized pre-surgical and post-surgical evaluations, including otological microscopic examinations and pure-tone audiometry tests. The main objectives are to evaluate the graft success rate (complete anatomical closure and stability of the eardrum) and to measure functional hearing restoration, specifically changes in air-conduction thresholds and the air-bone gap (ABG).

Boomerang-Shaped Cartilage Graft in Endoscopic Tympanoplasty

This study evaluates the anatomical and functional outcomes of using a boomerang-shaped chondroperichondrial graft in endoscopic Type I tympanoplasty for repairing anterior or subtotal tympanic membrane perforations. Anterior and subtotal eardrum perforations represent challenging surgical scenarios due to limited visualization, lack of anterior graft support, and higher risks of graft retraction, medialization, or residual perforation. The boomerang-shaped cartilage and perichondrium graft provides a sturdy cartilage framework along the anterior border to secure structural support, while maintaining a thin perichondrial layer over the functional vibratory area to facilitate acoustic transmission. All enrolled participants undergo endoscopic Type I tympanoplasty using this autologous grafting technique. Follow-up assessments are conducted at 1, 3, and 6 months after surgery to determine successful graft uptake, evaluate hearing improvement (via pure-tone audiometry and air-bone gap closure), and monitor for complications such as blunting, retraction, lateralization, or infection.

The Effects of Chronic Otitis Surgery on SVV

Inner ear trauma during chronic otitis surgery is one of the major concerns of Otolaryngology. Hearing thresholds or semicircular canals were investigated with this purpose. The investigator's aim is to test the utricle for surgical trauma.

A Prospective Comparative Study of Dry vs Wet Temporalis Fascia Graft in Tympanoplasty

This study was conducted to compare two methods of using temporalis fascia graft in tympanoplasty, namely wet temporalis fascia graft and dry temporalis fascia graft. Tympanoplasty is an ear surgery performed to repair a hole in the ear drum and to improve hearing in patients with chronic otitis media. Temporalis fascia is a thin layer of tissue taken from the area over the temple muscle and is commonly used as graft material for repair of the ear drum. The study included adult patients aged 18 to 60 years who had chronic otitis media with inactive mucosal disease, a large central perforation of the ear drum, and conductive hearing loss confirmed on pure-tone audiometry. Patients were assigned to one of two treatment groups. One group underwent tympanoplasty using a wet temporalis fascia graft, while the other group underwent tympanoplasty using a dry temporalis fascia graft. The main purpose of the study was to assess whether one graft preparation technique gave better surgical and hearing outcomes than the other. The outcomes were assessed three months after surgery. Hearing improvement was measured by comparing the air-bone gap before and after surgery on pure-tone audiometry. Graft success was assessed by otoscopic examination to determine whether the graft had healed properly, remained in correct position, and closed the ear drum perforation. Complete air-bone gap closure was also assessed as an additional hearing outcome.