We evaluated the outcome of 133 ears with a perforation of TM underwent myringoplasty at Niigata University hospital between January 1999 and December 2003. The patients' mean age was 45 years, with arange of 9-79 years. The diagnosis consisted of dry-state chronic otitis media in 82 ears (61%), wet-statechronic otitis media in 9 ears (7%), otitis media sequelae in 23 ears (17%), residual perforations after theinsertion of tympanostomy tube in 13 ears (10%), and traumatic TM perforations in 6 ears (5%). Classificationof the perforation size of TM showed grade I (25% perforation of TM) in 42 ears (32%), grade II (50% perforationof TM) in 61 ears (46%), and grade (subtotal perforation of TM) and grade IV (total perforationof TM) in 15 ears (11%).
The postoperative closure rate was 88% of all cases in 6 months and 77% of all cases in 12 months. Therewas no significant difference between diagnosis and perforation size related to the rate of closure. Of the earswith recurrent TM perforation, perforation recurred within 6 months after surgery in some ears, whereas itrecurred despite closure of TM perforation after epithelization in the other ears. There was no enlargement ofthe TM perforation size or reduction of hearing level in any patients in comparison to the preoperative state.
