Role of Stem Cells in Healing of Tympanic Membrane Perforations

Background: Stem cells are biological cells found in all multicellular organisms, that can divide (through mitosis) and differentiate into diverse specialized cell types and can selfrenew to produce more stem cells.Currently, surgery is the treatment of choice for repairing the perforation.However, surgery is time-consuming and expensive, and there is a risk of complications.Repairing a perforation by office techniques has been successful for a few cases for small traumatic perforations. Aim of Study:In this study we aimed to study the role of stem cell therapy in management of tympanic membrane perforations by otoscopic examination, microscopic, endoscopic examination and audiological assessment.Patients and Methods: Thirty patients included in our prospective study in Al-Zahra University Hospital and Shebin El-Kom Teaching Hospital from April 2014 up to December 2018.These patients were operated for simple myringoplasty with stem cell technique.These patients followed-up with otomicroscopic examination of the perforation, tympanometry and pure tone audiometry.Results: There were female patients much more than male patients.The mean age of the patients was 31.9±8.2 years.There is highly significant improvement in the air bone gap and ear canal volume differences before and 3 months after the operation.Doctor satisfaction was 96.7% while patient satisfaction was 94.1%.96.7% of cases had successful results of perforation closure.Of 30 patients operated by stem cells therapy under complete aseptic techniques 29 patients TM perforations had completely healed after first trial (success rate 96.7%) and one case failed (failure rate 3.3%). Conclusion:Stem cells therapy is a new effective technique more safer successful, economic, easier to operate and time consuming than the traditional tympanoplasty.When the perforation is small to medium size maximum 4 X 4mm and dry since more than one month.This technique is better and to avoid complications and side effects of general anaethesia.