Myringoplasty in the Pediatric Population

The long-term results of myringoplasty in children, including closure of perforation and hearing improvement, were reviewed in relation to age, condition of the operated-on ear, and condition of the untreated ear. The overall success rate in 155 operations evaluated one year postoperatively was 79%. Children in the 5- to 8-year-old age group had a success rate comparable to that of older (9- to 12-year-old) children (77.7% vs 80.4%). Where graft failure occurred, it was usually within one year of surgery. The outcome of surgery could not be related to the presence or absence of chronic otitis media in the untreated ear, the status of the operated-on ear (whether dry or discharging), or the performance of adenoidectomy before myringoplasty. Results of postoperative hearing, analyzed by calculating the postoperative air-bone gap and by speech audiometry, were similar in the two age groups. It is concluded that myringoplasty has a good chance of success in children, regardless of age.