Efficacy of autologous platelet-rich plasma on graft uptake in myringoplasty: a single-blinded randomized control trial

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Chronic otitis media is defined as a chronic inflammation of the middle ear cleft producing irreversible pathological changes. The myringoplasty aims at the reconstruction of the tympanic membrane using a graft material. Autologous platelet-rich plasma can be used along with the graft to have a successful outcome. The aim of the study was to assess the efficacy of autologous platelet-rich plasma on graft uptake in myringoplasty. METHODS: This was a randomized controlled trial with a sample size of 76 patients. All patients were above 18 and below 55 years of age diagnosed with chronic suppurative otitis media and were planned for myringoplasty. The participants were randomly allotted to two groups by block randomization (block of 4). Intra-operatively, group I (n=38) received platelet-rich plasma–soaked gel foam and group II (n=38) was taken as the control group who received saline-soaked gel foam and examined by a blinded examiner at the end of 1st and 3rd months. RESULTS: The mean air-bone gap reduction post-operatively in the platelet-rich plasma group was 8.68 ± 4.8 (P value 0.034) and 6.05 ± 4.05 in the control group. The improvement in pure-tone average in the platelet-rich plasma group (P = 0.009) is more than that in the control group. The graft uptake was higher among the platelet-rich plasma group than the control group both at 1st and 3rd months (P value 0.049) which were statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The present study concludes that the usage of platelet-rich plasma in the conventional myringoplasty technique has improved the success rate of graft uptake and reduced the graft migration. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical Trials Registry-India (ICMR-NIMS) CTRI/2020/04/024416. Date of registration: 01/04/2020. Date of enrolment of the first participant to the trial: 06/04/2020. URL of the trial registry: http://www.ctri.nic.in. HIGHLIGHTS: Usage of autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in conventional myringoplasty in underlay technique. Assessment of graft uptake, percentage of perforation closure, and the audiological outcome. Significant mean reduction of ABG in the PRP group. Significant improvement in PTA average in the PRP group. Graft uptake and percentage of perforation closure were higher in the PRP group and the control group. PRP is also beneficial in revision cases.