Background: This study aims at comparing the pure tone audiogram and tympanogram results of a measured thickness (1 mm) conchal cartilage graft material (1.0-mm CC) with full-thickness conchal cartilage (FTCC) used for inactive chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) mucosal disease with moderate size perforation. Results: A total of 40 successful cartilage tympanoplasty procedures were included in the prospective quasirandomised study. Patients aged between 15 and 55 years with inactive CSOM-moderate size perforation in the tympanic membrane were included. The patients were assessed at the end of 12 weeks with a pure tone audiogram and a tympanogram. The results were compared to know the compliance of the tympanic membrane (TM) between the two groups and the difference in audiometric gain (air-bone gap closure). The air-bone gap gain was better in the 1.0-mm CC group of patients (12) compared to the FTCC group of patients (7). The difference was statistically significant (p = 0.04). The 1.0-mm CC group of patients showed better compliance (0.43) compared to FTCC group of patients (0.73). The air volume and compliance were significantly better in the 1-mm CC group compared to the FTCC group (p = 0.031 and 0.01 respectively). Conclusion: The use of sliced cartilage seems to have a better role in reconstructing the TM when compared to full-thickness cartilage as graft material. It is indeed beneficial to have a compliant TM. Though the results cannot be compared with temporalis fascia grafts, the use of 1.0-mm CC has its advantage in producing an audio logically acceptable outcome in tympanoplasty surgery.

Type 1 tympanoplasty with graft helps in closure of perforation thereby arresting otorrhoea and improvement in hearing. Selecting a graft in tympanoplasty with cortical mastoidectomy is still a debatable topic among ENT surgeons across the world. Cortical mastoidectomy is opted by many for good mastoid ventilation and disease clearance in chronic otitis media.Evaluating postoperative outcomes of patients in graft uptake and hearing improvement in cortical mastoidectomy with type I tympanoplasty using temporalis fascia graft with and without tragal cartilage support in quiescent mucosal type of chronic otitis media with conductive hearing loss. A retrospective study of 60 patients who underwent cortical mastoidectomy with type I tympanoplasty were screened and taken for study. Group A had 30 patients who had underwent tympanoplasty with temporalis fascia supported by cartilage and group B included 30 patients who underwent tympanoplasty with temporalis fascia alone. They were followed periodically for 6 months and the outcome of graft uptake and hearing improvement were compared. Successful Graft uptake in group A was 90% and group B was 93%. Hearing improvement in group A was 83% and group B was 87%. Type I Tympanoplasty with cortical mastoidectomy gives a good outcome in terms of graft uptake and hearing improvement in chronic otitis media, but our study showed no significant difference between the two types of grafts used for tympanoplasties. The selection of patients, the condition of middle ear, postoperative asepsis and compliance of the patient and periodic follow up remains the crux in best outcome.

BACKGROUND There are many parameters that are considered to affect function and the extrusion time of the ventilation tubes (Grommets) inserted for patients with secretory otitis media (glue ear/otitis media with effusion). Our objective is to study such parameters and their significance in order to better understand the disease process. METHODS A total of 84 patients who underwent grommet insertion were retrospectively evaluated for the relationship between various parameters such as extrusion time, age, gender, adenoid size, status of tympanic membrane at the time of insertion, the nature of the fluid aspirated during procedure, pre-operative impedance audiogram and combination of adenoidectomy procedure.