Impact of titanium-prepared platelet-rich fibrin in type 1 fascia graft tympanoplasty on graft survival and hearing outcomes

Background: Type 1 fascia graft tympanoplasty (T1FGT) is the mainstay surgical approach for the treatment of tympanic membrane perforations. The most widely used graft material is temporal muscle fascia, and graft take rates are reported differently. The methods to enhance graft take are still being investigated. Aim: The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of titanium-prepared platelet-rich fibrin (T-PRF) on graft take and hearing outcomes in T1FGT. Materials and Methods: Fifty-seven ears eligible for T1FGT were involved in the study and prospectively evaluated. T-PRF was applied with T1FGT in 27 ears. Thirty ears in the other group underwent only T1FGT. The patients underwent an otomicroscopic and audiometric examination in preoperative and postoperative 2nd week, 1st month, and 6th month. Both groups were evaluated in terms of hearing levels, infection, and graft take rates. Results: Two patients in the T1FGT + T-PRF group and seven patients in the T1FGT group had postoperative perforation (graft take rate: 92.6% versus 76.7%). The graft take rate was found to be increased in the T-PRF group although the difference was not statistically significant. In the T1FGT group, the percentage of infection was higher than in the T1FGT + T-PRF group. When the preoperative and postoperative 6th-month audiometry was compared, a statistically significant hearing gain was obtained for both groups. Conclusion: In the treatment of tympanic membrane perforations, T-PRF applied over the fascia graft was shown to increase graft take rates and decrease the probability of infection. Further studies with larger samples are needed to demonstrate the effects of PRF.