[Anatomical and functional results of open cavity tympanomastoidectomy]

In this study, we aimed to evaluate the anatomical and functional results of open cavity tympanomastoidectomy due to chronic otitis media with cholesteatoma.

Between January 2003 and October 2009, 166 patients who underwent open cavity tympanomastoidectomy due to chronic otitis media with cholesteatoma in our clinic were retrospectively analyzed. Seventy-two ears of 69 patients (40 males, 29 females; mean age 36.7±17.7 years; range 9 to 64 years) who visited on a regular basis due to acquired middle ear cholesteatoma were included. Cholesteatoma was classified as attic, sinus and tensa retraction cholesteatoma, according to its localization. Audiological findings were compared based on the localization of cholesteatoma and intraoperative ossicular status.

The mean follow-up was 36.3±27.0 months (range 6 to 88 months). There were six (8.4%) greft failures, four (5.6%) graft retractions, and one (1.4%) recurrent cholesteatomas in the ears of the patients. There were also five (7%) pearly residual cholesteatomas. At the last visit following surgery, 97.2% of cavities were dry and self-cleaning. The mean preoperative pure tone air threshold was 53.5±22 dB, while it reduced to 52.2±23.3 dB at the last visit in 48 ears operated open cavity tympanomastoidectomy type 1, 2, 3, and 4 in combination with hearing reconstruction (p=0.454). There was a statistically significant reduction in the mean air-bone gap of the attic cholesteatomas, decreasing from 27.2±14.6 dB to 21.6±12.2 dB (p=0.007). Air-bone gap values were lower than 20 dB in 23 (47.9%) of the cases and the gain was more than 10 dB in 17 (35.5%). No statistically significant correlation was found between the localization of cholesteatoma and intraoperative ossicular status (p>0.05).

Open cavity tympanomastoidectomy, which allows total removal of the pathology, is an applicable surgical approach with satisfactory outcomes for hearing reconstruction.