[Clinical experiences with dehydrated temporalis fascia in tympanoplasty. Early and late results].

Dehydrated temporalis fascia, an allograft transplant tissue, is very useful in tympanoplasty and tympanomeatoplasty. In 87% of cases tympanic membrane grafts placed in patients with severe chronic otitis media have remained healed without change 4-6 years after surgery. All grafts also remained in position when placed on the posterior wall of the external auditory canal. Good healing was always seen without complications or inflammations. By using these grafts the duration of surgery could be reduced and the cosmetic risk of extending pre- or postauricular incisions to obtains autologous temporalis fascia was unnecessary, especially in revision surgery. The allograft is very easy to handle and is malleable and flexible. The main indications for use of allograft temporalis fascia are patients with chronic otitis media, traumatic tympanic membrane perforations or malformations of the middle ear (such as congenital atresias) requiring tympanic membrane replacement and lining of the posterior wall of the external auditory canal.