gms | German Medical Science

The objective of this retrospective study was to evaluate the anatomic and functional outcome of canal wall down tympanomastoidectomy over an enaural approach. 182 operations, performed between July 1998 and March 2004, were reviewed. 75% had been revision operations. In many cases (56%) a large cholesteatoma was the reason for surgical intervention and the complete removal was the main aim during operation. For ossiculoplasty both, titanium prostheses or tragal cartilage were used. A local antibiotic preparation was done in 10% of the cases. Severe complications didn’t occur during operation and were rare after it (11%). Most frequently (3%) patients complained about prolonged otorrhea, which needed long conservative care. In three cases an intermediate facial paresis and in one case a complete deafness occurred after operation. Early cholestatoma rezidives occurred exceptionally (2%).

First audiometrical follow up was performed six weeks after operation. If it was possible to do tympanoplasty with an alloplastiv implant, average air bone gap improvment was 13dB. Has it to be done without because of local circumstances the improvement was solely 3dB.

The canal wall down tympanomastoidectomy over an enaural approach is a safe method that brings few postoperative problems and good hearing results.