Evaluation of the relationship between graft failure after tympanoplasty and smoking status and preoperative inflammatory markers

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between graft success in patients undergoing tympanoplasty with various techniques and smoking status, as well as preoperative complete blood count (CBC)-based inflammatory markers (CRP, WBC, NLR, PLR, RDW). This retrospective study included 40 patients who underwent tympanoplasty in our clinic between 2023 and 2025. Patients were divided into two groups based on graft success as not-failed and failed. Smoking status, surgical technique, and inflammatory laboratory parameters were recorded. Fisher’s Exact Test, Chi-square Test, and Mann–Whitney U Test were used for statistical analyses (p < 0.05 was considered significant). A statistically significant association was found between smoking status and graft failure (p = 0.001). CRP levels were not statistically significant (p = 0.055), but showed borderline results. No significant relationship was observed between graft outcomes and other inflammatory markers such as WBC, NLR, PLR, and RDW. Surgical techniques also did not significantly affect graft success (p = 0.144). These findings shows the importance of advising patients to stop smoking before surgery to improve the graft success rates.