Clinical efficacy of the dumbbell-shaped tragal cartilage-perichondrium air-filled chamber technique for small-to-medium tympanic membrane perforations: a retrospective study.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the dumbbell-shaped tragal cartilage-perichondrium air-filled chamber technique versus the gelatine sponge packing method for small-medium tympanic membrane perforations.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of 68 patients (39 air-filled chamber, 29 gelatine sponge) treated between January 2020 and September 2024. Pre- and post-operative assessments included pure tone audiometry, air-bone gap, tympanic membrane healing, and visual analogue scale scores.

Results: Healing rates were similar (89.7 per cent vs 93.1 per cent, p = 0.959). At six months, pure tone audiometry and air-bone gap improvements were comparable (p > 0.05). At one month, the air-filled chamber group showed better hearing recovery (pure tone audiometry: 19.71 vs 24.27 dB HL; air-bone gap: 7.28 vs 12.28 dB HL; both p < 0.05) and lower pain scores (1.13 vs 1.59, p = 0.022). Complications and operative times were similar.

Conclusion: The air-filled chamber technique is a safe and effective alternative, offering superior early hearing recovery, reduced discomfort, and comparable long-term outcomes to the gelatine sponge method.