At THE present time, tympanoplasty is a widely used operation. Although to completely implement it is difficult from a technical standpoint, nevertheless, regularly operating otologic surgeons, under correctly established conditions, almost always achieve improvements in hearing on the operating table. However, a no less complicated problem subsequently arises—the preservation of the reconstructed sound conducting apparatus in the course of the immediate postoperative period, and, above all, in the extended follow-up. Numerous dangers, such as a deterioration in the patency of the eustachian tube, an adhesion of the transplant with the promontory wall of the tympanic cavity, a recurrence of the inflammatory process, worsen the prognosis in tympanoplasty and result in a lowering of the observed postoperative hearing to 30% to 40%.
One of the basic problems facing the otologic surgeon performing tympanoplasty at the present time is the selection of the transplant. In this category, skin, muscle, fascia, mucous