Lack of qualified participants

The trial seeks to provide evidence that the Skye ActiveBarrier provides similar surgical and functional outcomes as fascia when used for tympanoplasties while offering benefits including reduced operative time, better patient satisfaction, and fewer complications.

A prospective randomized controlled trial will be conducted. Eligible patients will be identified, recruited and randomized to receive either repair using the standard fascia graft or repair using the Skye ActiveBarrier. Subjects will undergo a preoperative evaluation followed by TM repair and subsequent regular office visits to assess functional outcomes, complications, and satisfaction. Patients will be blinded to the substrate used for their repair. As there are two different approaches for a tympanoplasty (through the ear canal or incision behind the ear) based on the subject's ear anatomy and location of the perforation, a sham surgery will not be necessary to disguise which graft is received. At follow up visits, photos may be taken of patients' TMs and these photos will be evaluated for healing by an otologist who did not conduct the surgery in a blinded fashion. At the 1 year follow up appointment, subjects will be told which substrate they received and at the study's conclusion subjects will notified about the study's findings.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Presence of a tympanic membrane perforation
2. Patient at PI's clinic

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Presence of cholesteatoma
2. Prior surgery on the same-sided TM or middle ear
3. Ossicular chain abnormalities
4. Congenital deformities involving the middle ear or eustachian tube
5. Refusal to undergo surgery

The investigators do not intend to share individual participant data to other researchers. Analyzed data will be published in peer-review journal.

Participant will be blinded to the type of barrier received.