A comparative study of endoscopic versus microscopic tympanoplasty in chronic otitis media

Background: To compare the results between tympanoplasty performed with transcanal endoscopic ear surgery and microscopic ear surgery for the treatment of chronic otitis media. Materials and Methods: A double-blind randomized prospective study was performed on inactive chronic otitis media patients that underwent tympanoplasty and later follow-up for at least 6 months in terms of graft uptake and hearing gain. Seventy patients were selected and randomized in Group A-endoscopic tympanoplasty and Group B-microscopic tympanoplasty. Results: In our study, we found that the graft take up rate was 94.3% (33/35) in Group A and 91.4% (32/35) in Group B. The improvements in the air-conduction levels and the air-bone gaps were not significantly different between the two groups (P > 0.05). The average hearing gains in the endoscopic group postsurgery were 10.51 ± 4.71 dB and in the microscopic group were 12.23 ± 4.72 dB (P = 0.132). The average operating time was 37.77 ± 5.33 min in the endoscopic group which was better than the microscopic group which was 45.77 ± 5.29 min, (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Endoscopic tympanoplasty technique is a feasible alternative to the conventional microscopic technique owing to the findings in terms of duration of surgery and graft uptake. In addition, the endoscopic approach provides better postoperative cosmesis, patient satisfaction, and early mobilization.