TYPE-I TYMPANOPLASTY IN CHILDREN

To identify factors that could influence the success of tympanoplastie s in children, a retrospective study was done of 51 tympanoplasties pe rformed on children aged 9-14 years during the years 1984-1989. Surgic al success was defined as an intact membrane found after 3 years' foll ow-up. The success rate of tympanoplasties was 92%. A functioning eust achian tube was found to be important for graft take. No difference wa s found in the rate of graft take whether of the temporal muscle or tr agal perichondrium was used. An audiologic improvement was seen in 70. 6% of the patients. We conclude that tympanoplasty in children has a h igh probability of success and will enable most children operated on t o resume a normal lifestyle.