XENOGRAFT VERSUS AUTOGRAFT IN TYMPANOPLASTY

This retrospective study compares the tympanoplasty success rate when using a xenograft (Zenoderm) or an autograft (temporalis fascia). Fift y-three ears were operated on over a three-year period. All the tympan oplasty operations were performed by the same surgeon. There were 43 e ars in the temporalis fascia autograft group and 10 ears in the Zenode rm xenograft group. Both groups were similar with respect to patient a ge, type of tympanoplasty, area of tympanic membrane perforation and c ondition of the contralateral ear. The tympanoplasty success rate in t he temporalis fascia autograft group was 95 per cent. The tympanoplast y success rate in the Zenoderm xenograft group was only 40 per cent. A ll Zenoderm tympanoplasty failures were regrafted with temporalis fasc ia autograft. There was a 100 per cent success rate with this salvage surgery. In conclusion, we suggest that Zenoderm is not a suitable gra ft material for tympanoplasty.