Acellular Collagen Scaffold With Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor for Repair of Traumatic Tympanic Membrane Perforation in a Rat Model. (February 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yao, Xu; Teh, Bing Mei; Li, Huan; Hu, Yi; Huang, Juntao; Lv, Cuiting; Bu, Shizhong; Zheng, Minghao; Shen, Yi
• Is Part Of: Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery. Volume 164:Number 2(2021)
• Page Start: 381
• Page End: 390
• Publication Date: 2021-02
• Subjects: tympanic membrane perforation -- scaffolds -- collagen -- basic fibroblast growth factor -- healing -- hearing; Head -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Neck -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Otolaryngology -- Periodicals; 617.51
• DOI: 10.1177/0194599820938345
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0194-5998

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of acellular collagen scaffold (ACS) in combination with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) for the repair of traumatic tympanic membrane (TM) perforation in a rat model. Study Design: A prospective controlled animal study in a rat model of traumatic TM perforation. Setting: Tertiary medical center. Subjects and Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats (N = 84) with unilateral traumatic perforation of the right TMs were randomized to receive ACS, bFGF, ACS in combination with bFGF (ACS/bFGF), or nothing (spontaneous healing without any interventions as a control group). The healing outcomes were evaluated by otoscopy, optical coherence tomography, histology, and transmission electron microscopy at 1, 2, and 4 weeks postoperatively. The hearing outcomes were assessed with auditory brainstem response testing. Results: ACS/bFGF resulted in higher perforation closure rates at an earlier stage than spontaneous healing, ACS, and bFGF. Based on histology, optical coherence tomography, and transmission electron microscopy, a trilaminar structure and uniform thickness with mature, densely packed collagen fibers were seen in the ACS/bFGF group. Auditory brainstem response evaluation also showed that ACS/bFGF treatment promoted faster functional hearing recovery as compared with the control group. Conclusions: ACS is an effective TM scaffold and a carrier for bFGF. ACS/bFGF improves the TM closure rate, results in better-reconstructed TMs, and improves hearing. ACS/bFGF serves as a potential substitute for TM perforations in clinical settings.