We evaluated the postoperative hearing results of 33 patients who underwent a type IV tympanoplasty between January 2001 and March 2010 at Tokyo Medical University Hospital.
A total of 33 ears in 18 male and 15 female patients were studied with ages ranging from 8 to 77 years. The patients were followed up for at least 6 months after surgery. The surgical techniques were Type IV-c in 32 ears, and IV-i in 1 ear.
In the case of a non-inflammatory disease, such as malformation of the middle ear, traumatic lesion of the ossicular chain and congenital cholesteatoma, successful hearing results were attained in 92.9% of the patients. In the case of an inflammatory disease, such as acquired cholesteatoma and otitis media, successful hearing results were attained in 36.8%.
The success rate was 87.5%, when an autograft cartilage was used for an ossiculoplasty and 43.8%, when bone was used.
