COMPARATIVE EFFICACY OF SLICED TRAGAL CARTILAGE VERSUS TEMPORALIS FASCIA IN TYMPANOPLASTY: A STUDY ON HEARING IMPROVEMENT AND GRAFT UPTAKE

Objective: Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) often necessitates surgical intervention, with tympanoplasty being a key procedure to restore hearing. The choice of graft material-sliced tragal cartilage versus temporalis fascia remains controversial due to potential differences in acoustic transmission and graft resilience. Methods: This prospective cohort study included 48 patients with CSOM, randomly assigned to receive either tragal cartilage or temporalis fascia grafts. Outcomes measured were hearing improvement and graft uptake, assessed through audiometric testing and otoscopic evaluations. Results: Both groups showed significant improvements in hearing postoperatively, with no statistically significant difference in hearing gain (P=0.3064). Graft uptake rates were comparable, with a non-significant lower reperforation rate in the cartilage group (P=0.551). Conclusion: The study supports the use of either sliced tragal cartilage or temporalis fascia as effective materials for tympanoplasty, offering substantial hearing improvement and reliable graft uptake.