Mastoid obliteration combined with soft-wall reconstruction of posterior ear canal

Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2007 Aug;264(8):867-71. doi: 10.1007/s00405-007-0273-5. Epub 2007 Mar 6.

Abstract

To clarify the usefulness of modified soft-wall reconstruction method by combing with mastoid obliteration, 96 patients (98 ears) with their age ranging from 5 to 82 (average 51.3), including 62 ears with chronic otitis media (COM) with cholesteatoma, 18 ears with non-cholesteatomatous COM, 14 ears with postoperative cavity problem, and 4 ears with adhesive-type COM, who had soft-wall reconstruction of the posterior ear canal and mastoid obliteration using mainly bone powder following mastoidectomy, were evaluated their postoperative conditions more than a year after surgery. Overall success rate was 76.5% (75/98), and fresh cases showed better success rate (84.8%) than those with a history of multiple surgeries (69.2%). Among unsuccessful cases, crust and/or debris accumulation was observed most (nine ears), followed by persistent wet condition (seven ears), and exposure of the obliterated material (five ears), while only two ears showed a retraction pocket formation. The success rates remained almost the same among those who were followed for more than 2 and 3 years (46/61, 75% and 21/28, 75%, respectively). In 60 ears on which postoperative hearing was assessed, 41.7% showed less than 15 dB of air-bone gap (ABG), and 61.7% showed less than 20 dB of ABG. Mastoid obliteration with bone powder in combination with soft-wall reconstruction of the posterior ear canal appeared a useful method for obliterating mastoidectomized cavity especially for prevention of postoperative pocket formation.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear / complications
  • Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear / surgery*
  • Chronic Disease
  • Ear Canal / surgery*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mastoid / surgery*
  • Middle Aged
  • Otitis Media / complications
  • Otitis Media / surgery*
  • Plastic Surgery Procedures / methods*
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Tympanoplasty / methods*