Abstract
Chitin is extracted from crab shells. A chitin membrane was used for repairing perforation of the tympanic membrane in 98 patients over 6 years (102 ears). The overall success rate was 81.9% for tympanic membrane perforation. Successful repair of traumatic tympanic membrane perforation was achieved in 100% of patients, and 76% of chronic otitis media-related perforations were successfully repaired with the chitin membrane. We emphasize that this method is useful for ENT outpatients, because as soon as we pacthed a chitin membrane on to the ear drum perforation, hearing loss and ear fullness were recoverd, and the ear drum perforation closed in a short time.
