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M-meatoplasty: results and patient satisfaction in 125 patients (199 ears)
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, St. Lucas-Andreas Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Objective:
Is M-meatoplasty the solution for chronic otitis externa caused by wax retention? This study discusses acceptance of this operation and whether sedation is necessary.
Study Design:
Between October 1994 and October 1997, 199 successive M-meatoplasties (125 patients) were studied, and 79% of the patients completed a questionnaire in which patient satisfaction with the procedure and outcome was assessed.
Setting:
Local hospital, functioning as a secondary referral center.
Patients:
All patients had narrowing of the lateral part of the outer ear canal resulting from anterior displacement of the cavum conchae cartilage.
Intervention:
The aim of M-meatoplasty is to increase the lumen of the entrance to the external ear canal by reducing the conchal cartilage on the posterior wall
Main Outcome Measures:
Reduction of visits to the outpatient clinic, patient satisfaction on a scale from 1 (very bad) to 10 (excellent).
Results:
The number of preoperative visits was 7 (range 1-153). The median number of postoperative visits for the same problems more than 3 months after surgery was 1 (range 0-14). The patient score for the surgery and the final result was a median of 9 (very good).
Conclusions:
Wax obstruction and related external otitis can be cured by M-meatoplasty if the conchal cartilage is too prominent on the posterior wall. It is a simple outpatient operation and is very well tolerated. After the operation, there is an enormous reduction in outpatient visits.