Role of cortical masteoidectomy in the results of myringoplasty for dry tubotympanic disease

There is little controversy over the role of cortical mastoidectomy in active tubotympanic disease when a mastoid reservoir of infection is implicated as the septic focus. Its role in myringoplasty for dry tubotympanic disease is however debatable. Those arguing in favour of the latter feel that cortical mastoidectomy in such cases increase the air reservoir in the mastoid and also may help in achieving the patency of the aditus. The aim of this prospective study was to compare the efficacies of myringoplasty alone and myringoplasty with cortical mastoidectomy in dry tubotympanic disease. Both groups had 20 cases each, which were carefully randomized by balancing the age, sex and other non-mastoid factors that could affect the efficacy. The patients were divided into 3 groups depending on the size of the mastoid on a plain lateral oblique radiograph into large, medium and small mastoids. The latter surgery was found to be more effective in terms of graft uptake and hearing gain especially in those with small mastoids.