Complication rates of Reuter Bobbin titanium versus Sheehy Collar Button fluoroplastic tympanostomy tubes in children with otitis media:a retrospective cohort studyOA

Background:Tympanostomy tube(TT)insertion is one of the most common pediatric otologic procedures.This study compares postoperative com-plications between two commonly used tympanostomy tubes:Reuter Bobbin titanium tubes and Sheehy Collar Button fluoroplastic tubes.Design:Retrospective cohort study.Methods:The medical records of children aged 6 months to 7 years who underwent TT insertion at a tertiary care center between July 2022 and June 2023 were reviewed.Patients were divided according to the inserted tube model:Reuter Bobbin titanium or Sheehy Collar Button fluoroplastic.The main outcomes were postoperative ear drainage and complications,including tube clogging,granulation tissue for-mation,premature extrusion,and tympanic membrane perforation,assessed across the first,second,and third follow-up visits.Results:A total of 138 patients who underwent TT insertion in 268 ears were included;181 ears received Sheehy Collar Button fluoroplastic tubes and 87 ears received Reuter Bobbin titanium tubes.At the third follow-up visit(7.46±2.93 months),the overall complication rate was higher in ears with Reuter Bobbin titanium tubes than in those with Sheehy Collar Button fluoroplastic tubes(44.4%vs.5.6%,p<0.001).Ear drainage was more frequent in the fluoroplastic tube group across follow-up visits(7.2%,18.4%,and 27.8%vs.1.1%,7.4%,and 0%,respectively;p=0.054,p=0.12,and p<0.001).Conclusion:In this retrospective cohort,Reuter Bobbin titanium tubes were associated with higher later complication rates,whereas Sheehy Collar Button fluoroplastic tubes were associated with higher postoperative drainage.