Air space reduction tympanomastoidectomy repairs difficult perforations more reliably than tympanoplasty

Objectives/Hypothesis Air space reduction tympanomastoidectomy improves outcomes over tympanoplasty in repairing tympanic membrane perforations in the presence of unfavorable risk factors. Study Design Retrospective review of 67 subjects' 87 operations. Methods Interventions were tympanoplasty versus air space reduction tympanomastoidectomy. Risk factors were contracted mastoid air cells, previous failed operations, descent from the indigenous peoples of the Americas, and middle/ear mastoid volumes l