Comparison of Endoscopic and Microscopic Type 1 Tympanoplasty on Surgical Outcomes and Quality of Life

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the surgical and functional outcomes, as well as the quality of life, of patients who underwent endoscopic and microscopic type 1 tympanoplasty. Material and Methods: In two groups of patients undergoing endoscopic and microscopic tympanoplasty, pre- and postoperative audiological outcomes, Middle Ear Risk Index, and Chronic Otitis Media Benefit Inventory, a newly designed questionnaire specific for chronic otitis media surgery, were prospectively evaluated. Results: The endoscopic tympanoplasty group had 30 patients, while the microscopic tympanoplasty group had 22 participants. There were no statistically significant differences in demographic parameters, Middle Ear Risk Index, or graft material chosen between the groups, although the time of hospitalization was considerably shorter in the endoscopic tympanoplasty group (p<0.001). In terms of air conduction thresholds and air-bone gap, the difference between pre and postoperative time points was statistically significant in both groups (p<0.001), but not between groups. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of hearing gain and Chronic Otitis Media Benefit Inventory scores. Conclusion: Although the endoscopic tympanoplasty group is known to decrease early postoperative complaints and shorten hospitalization periods, the equivalent late functional outcomes (audiological and quality of life results) reveal that the two surgical procedures are not superior to each other in the long term.

Keywords

• Endoscopic tympanoplasty
• microscopic tympanoplasty
• quality of life
• middle ear

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