Results of type 1 tympanoplasty in children and parental perceptions of outcome of surgery

Abstract

The goals of tympanoplasty in children include improvement in hearing, prevention of earinfections, and elimination of the need for water precautions. However, tympanoplasty in children is a controversial subject. In the present study the outcome of tympanoplasty in children is examined with regard to its success in achieving these goals and to the level of parental satisfaction with its outcome. Fifty-four children undergoing 62 tympanoplasties at our institution were included in the study. The surgical success rate was 72.5 per cent. Fifty per cent of parents reported that their child’s hearing had improved (p = 0.181 for association with surgical success), 78 per cent reported a decrease in ear infections (p = 0.023), 45 per cent reported their child to be participating in activities previously refrained from (p = 0.003), and 79 per cent of parents were satisfied with the overall surgical outcome (p < 0.001). Our findings show that successful tympanoplasty may confer benefits on children and may help guide parents’ expectations of the surgery.