Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 5, 2026
Endoscopic Cholesteatoma Surgery
Published on: January 19, 2022
Endoscopic Ear Surgery for External Auditory Canal Cholesteatoma
Jörg Dähn1, Lukas Anschuetz, Masaya Konishi
1*Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Inselspital, University Hospital, and University of Bern †Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Bürgerspital Solothurn, Solothurn, Switzerland ‡Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Kansai Medical University Hospital, Hirakata, Osaka, Japan §Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana.
Transcanal endoscopic ear surgery (EES) offers a successful treatment for external auditory canal cholesteatoma (EACC) up to Naim stage III, demonstrating significantly faster healing times compared to other surgical methods.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Surgical Innovation
- Medical Technology
Background:
- External auditory canal cholesteatoma (EACC) treatment remains debated.
- Previous systematic reviews highlighted endoscopic ear surgery (EES) in 2015.
- This study introduces transcanal EES as a primary treatment for EACC.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the technique and outcomes of solely transcanal EES for EACC.
- To evaluate the efficacy of EES in treating EACC.
- To compare healing times with traditional surgical approaches.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective case series (Level of Evidence IV).
- Nine patients with unilateral EACC treated with EES between Oct 2014 - Dec 2016.
- Bimanual technique with canaloplasty using tragal perichondrium, cartilage, or artificial bone.
Main Results:
- All nine Naim stage III EACCs successfully treated with EES.
- Median healing time was 23.8 days for EES.
- EES showed significantly shorter healing times than retroauricular or endaural techniques.
Conclusions:
- Transcanal EES is a valid treatment for EACC up to Naim stage III.
- EES minimizes tissue damage and reduces healing time.
- The procedure is suitable for training residents in EES techniques.
