Silastic and Gelatin Film Sheeting in Tympanoplasty

Abstract

In 78 patients, representing 10% of the most severe cases of chronic otitis media and in whom the mucosa from the promontory had been removed or severely damaged, the promontory was covered in one-stage mastoidectomy-tympanoplasty with a large piece of thin silastic or of Gelfilm.® The results in the silastic group, comprising 50 patients, and in the Gelfilm® group, comprising 28 patients, were compared on the basis of various criteria. The results proved better in the Gelfilm® group. In particular, the percentage of recurrent perforations was considerably lower than in the silastic group. In one-stage operations, which we prefer, it is therefore recommended to use Gelfilm® rather than silastic.