Preservation Versus Resection of the Anterior Malleolar Handle During Endoscopic Tympanoplasty: A Retrospective Comparative Study.

Significant postoperative improvement in air-bone gap (air-bone gap) was observed in both groups.

Mean air-bone gap improved from 18.87 ± 7.95 dB HL to 13.70 ± 4.69 dB HL in Group A (P = .002) and from 20.10 ± 6.59 dB HL to 15.75 ± 5.67 dB HL in Group B (P = .009).

No significant differences were found between groups in preoperative air-bone gap, postoperative air-bone gap, or air-bone gap closure.

Tympanic membrane closure was achieved in 91% of patients in both groups.