Abstract: Objective To analyze the clinical efficacy of tympanic membrane microtubule placement in the treatment of middle ear edema. Methods Seventy-six patients with middle ear atelectasis were divided into two groups according to Dornhoffers staging criteria. Group A was comprised of 38 patients with middle ear atelectasis classified as grade Ⅰ or Ⅱ, and group B was comprised of patients with grades Ⅲ or Ⅳ. The results of pure tone audiometry and acoustic impedance measurements were compared for the two groups before surgery and 1 week, 1 month, and 6 months afterward, to assess the effects of treatment and observe the occurrence and recurrence of complications. Results There were statistically significant differences between the two groups in pure tone audiometry before tympanic microtubule implantation and at 1 week, 1 month, and 6 months afterward(P<0.05). There were also statistically significant differences in acoustic impedance before treatment and at 1 week, 1 month and 6 months afterward(P<0.05). In Group A, 36 cases(94.74%)showed fully effectiveness, compared to 30 cases(78.95%)in group B. The difference in efficacy was significant(P<0.01). In group A there were no cases of complications and no cases of recurrence, while in group B there were 2 cases(5.26%)with complications and 3 cases(7.89%)with recurrence. The incidence of complications and recurrence rate differed significantly in the two groups(P<0.05). Conclusion Tympanic microtubule implantation has good clinical effects in patients with grade Ⅰ or Ⅱ middle ear atelectasis, and can effectively reduce the incidence of complications and recurrence rate.

Key words: Tympanic membrane microtubule implantation, Surgical method, Clinical effect, Middle ear atelectasis