To determine the outcomes of tympanoplasty surgery using porcine-derived small intestinal submucosa.

A retrospective audit was conducted in a hospital setting. Thirty-five adult and paediatric patients who received a small intestinal submucosa graft as part of tympanoplasty surgery were retrospectively reviewed. Patients underwent either simple tympanoplasty (n = 26) or complex tympanoplasty as part of a concurrent otological procedure such as atticotomy and mastoidectomy. The main outcome measures were rate of tympanic membrane closure and change in four-frequency mean air–bone gap.

Thirty-one patients had a follow-up period of longer than two months. Closure was obtained in 22 patients (71 per cent). The mean air–bone gap improved from 20.7 to 12.3 dB HL in the simple tympanoplasty group and from 22.3 to 12 dB HL in the complex tympanoplasty group.

Tympanoplasty surgery with small intestinal submucosa is a viable option for patients where autologous graft is not available or in order to minimise donor site morbidity.

To modify the non-porous surface membrane of a tissue-engineered laryngeal scaffold to allow effective cell entry.

The mechanical properties, surface topography and chemistry of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane poly(carbonate-urea) urethane were characterised. A laser technique introduced surface perforations. Micro computed tomography generated porosity data. Scaffolds were seeded with cells, investigated histologically and proliferation studied. Incubation and time effects were assessed.

Laser cutting perforated the polymer, connecting the substructure with the ex-scaffold environment and increasing porosity (porous, non-perforated = 87.9 per cent; porous, laser-perforated at intensities 3 = 96.4 per cent and 6 = 89.5 per cent). Cellular studies confirmed improved cell viability. Histology showed cells adherent to the scaffold surface and cells within perforations, and indicated that cells migrated into the scaffolds. After 15 days of incubation, scanning electron microscopy revealed an 11 per cent reduction in pore diameter, correlating with a decrease in Young's modulus.

Introducing surface perforations presents a viable method of improving polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane poly(carbonate-urea) urethane as a tissue-engineered scaffold.

This paper reviews the progress in the rapidly expanding scientific discipline of tissue engineering, which may have an integral role in the future of otorhinolaryngology. This article seeks to inform on the current concepts and principles of tissue engineering, and describe the state of the art research and developments in this exciting field as applied to ENT and head and neck surgery.

In order to carry out a comprehensive review of the literature spanning the past 30 years, a search of relevant publications was performed using the Web of Knowledge, Medline and PubMed databases.

This search identified 85 scholarly articles, which were utilised as the basis of this review.

Given the current rate of development of tissue engineering research, it is likely that tissue-engineered implants will be widely used in surgical practice, including ENT and head and neck surgery.