A series of 365 cases of tympanic membrane repair by the same surgeon is analysed, comparing the results of different techniques and grafting materials. A detailed study of 206 of these cases employing the underlay technique with temporal fascia is reported. In this group a graft take rate of 91.4 per cent in dry ears, and of 89.3 per cent in all cases, was achieved. Various factors liable to influence the success rate are analysed and discussed. No cases of conductive or sensori-neural hearing loss resulting from the operation were encountered.