Revision tympanoplasty

Abstract

SummaryThe terms ‘planned two-stage operations’, ‘planned second-look operations’, ‘previous surgery’, and ‘revision surgery’ are discussed on the basis of our series of 2,303 ears operated upon from January 1965 to December 1980. We have not performed any planned two-stage operations. All operations prior to the first operation in our department are denoted ‘previous surgery’. ‘Revision surgery’ denotes all reoperations performed either in this department or elsewhere during the observation period until the end of 1984, and the revision rate is analysed in patients with different pathological conditions. ‘Revision surgery’ was performed in 15.6 percent of 740 ears with cholesteatoma (in 13.9 percent once, in 1.6 percent twice, and in 0.1 percent three times), and ‘previous surgery’ in 3 percent.Among 229 ears with chronic granulating otitis, revision surgery had been performed in 12.2 percent up to December 1982. By December 1984, this figure had risen to 16.1 percent. ‘Previous surgery’ had been performed in 18.3 percent. A total of 38.4 percent had at least two operations.The revision rate in other conditions varied from 10 percent (sequelae to chronic otitis) to 34 percent (post-inflammatory acquired atresia). These rates are discussed and the functional results presented.