Hearing Outcomes Following Type 3 Tympanoplasty With Stapes Columella Grafting in Canal Wall Down Mastoidectomy

To analyze hearing outcomes following Type 3 tympanoplasty with stapes columella grafting after canal wall down mastoidectomy and determine disease recurrence rates in patients undergoing this procedure.

This retrospective cohort analysis examines patients undergoing Type 3 tympanoplasty with stapes columella grafting following canal wall down mastoidectomy for cholesteatoma at a tertiary care center from 2005 to 2015. Patient charts were reviewed for demographic data, diagnosis, and operative details. Patients were included in statistical analysis if they were found to have undergone the aforementioned procedure. Evaluation of hearing improvement was made by comparing preoperative air-bone gap (ABG) and ABG at follow-up at 6 months and 1 year postoperatively.

Nineteen patients met criteria for this study. Erosion of the otic capsule, posterior fossa plate, or tegmen was noted in 37% of cases, highlighting disease severity. Eighteen (95%) had undergone prior otologic surgery. Mean time to short-term follow-up was 6 ± 3 months. The average short-term ABG was 26 ± 11 dB HL; 26% achieved an ABG <20 dB, and 58% achieved an ABG <30 dB. Fifteen had follow-up at least 1 year postoperatively (mean = 33 ± 16 months). At longer-term follow-up, mean ABG was 25 ± 10 dB HL; 33% achieved an ABG <20 dB, while 66% achieved an ABG <30 dB. Hearing remained stable over time (P = .52). At date of last clinical follow-up, only 1 (5%) patient had undergone revision for recurrent disease.

In some patients undergoing canal wall down mastoidectomy for advanced or recurrent cholesteatoma, Type 3 tympanoplasty with stapes columella grafting yields marginal hearing benefit. This type of reconstruction is a viable option in this challenging patient cohort, particularly as it is associated with low rates of revision surgery.