[Diagnosis and treatment of congenital abnormality in external and middle ear]

To investigate the clinical characters, methods of evaluation before surgery and effects of treatment of congenital abnormality in external and middle ear.

The data of 21 cases (22 ears) with congenital abnormalities in external and middle ear who received operation in ENT Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University during 5 years from June 2000 to June 2005 were analyzed.

Malformations of middle ear were presented in all cases. These mainly consisted of small tympanic cavities in 16 ears (72.7%), ossicular chain anomalies in 20 ears (90.9%) and facial nerve abnormalities in 8 ears (36.4%). The hearing improvement was observed in 15 ears (68.2%) after surgery, of which 9 ears had hearing improvement greater than 30 dB. Long term (0.5 to approximately 5 years) follow-up demonstrated that the hearing in 17 ears were kept unchanged after surgery. The postoperative complications were external auditory canal stenosis in 4 ears and lateralization of the tympanic membrane in 2 ears.

Careful evaluation of the hearing and CT of congenital abnormalities of external and middle ear before operation are important. Maintenance of width of the external acoustic meatus and prevention of infection are crucial in the treatment of congenital abnormalities of external and middle ear.