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["Ear camp" for children in Namibia. A field report].
G Lehnerdt1, A van Delden, J Lautermann
1Universitäts-Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Klinik Essen, Universitätsklinikum Essen. goetz.lehnerdt@uni-essen.de
HNO
|December 6, 2005
Summary
Ear surgery camps in Namibia provided tympanoplasty for children with chronic ear issues. Tragal cartilage reconstruction achieved an 80% closure rate, improving hearing by 13 dB.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Surgical Innovation
- Global Health
Background:
- High prevalence of chronic ear infections in Northern Namibia necessitates surgical intervention.
- Limited access to hearing aids and potential complications like cholesteatoma underscore the need for ear surgery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the feasibility and outcomes of conducting ear surgery camps in underserved regions.
- To evaluate the efficacy of specific surgical techniques for tympanic membrane reconstruction in children.
Main Methods:
- Conducted two ear surgery camps in 2003 and 2004, performing 81 tympanoplasties on 61 children and one adult.
- Utilized autogenous ossicles, titanium prostheses, and tragal cartilage with perichondrium in an underlay technique for tympanic membrane reconstruction.
- Performed antrotomy or mastoidectomy in 39 cases and created open cavities in six cases due to cholesteatoma.
Main Results:
- Tympanoplasty types I and III were performed, with tragal cartilage reconstruction showing an approximate 80% closure rate after six months.
- Average improvement in air conduction thresholds was 13 dB across key frequencies (250–4,000 Hz).
- Surgical interventions addressed (sub)total tympanic membrane defects and cholesteatoma.
Conclusions:
- Ear surgery camps are viable with external support, adapting therapies to local constraints.
- Tragal cartilage with overlapping perichondrium is a safe and effective method for stable tympanic membrane reconstruction.
- Initiated training for local doctors in ear surgery to foster sustainable local expertise.