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

Background: Tympanostomy tube (TT) insertion is one of the most common pediatric otologic procedures. This study compares postoperative complications 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 formation, 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.