Formaldehyde fasciaform tympanoplasty: A reliable technique for closing large tympanic membrane perforations

Formaldehyde fasciaform grafting tympanoplasty is a reliable method, in exp erienced hands, to close large tympanic membrane perforations. The techniqu e involves using autogenous temporalis fascia shaped by formaldehyde cross- linking on a special fasciaform mold (Hear America, Palo Alto, CA). This st udy was undertaken with the objective of assessing if an otologist with les s experience in using this technique could obtain comparable results. The r esults of the initial 23 patients treated in this manner by one surgeon bet ween August 1996 and January 1998 are reviewed. Success was measured by the rate of closure of the tympanic membrane perforation and by functional clo sure of the air-bone gap. Favourable results were obtained, with complete c losure of 86% of the perforations and closure of the air-bone gap to 20 dB or less in 90% of subjects when the ossicular chain was intact. The formald ehyde fasciaform. tympanoplasty technique produces consistent, reliable, an d reproducible results for large tympanic membrane perforations.