Temporalis muscle flap for the otologist

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Neurosurgery
• Plastic Surgery

Background:

• Tumor surgery often involves removing parts of the ear, including the mastoid cavity, ear canal, middle ear, and inner ear.
• This surgical approach creates a cavity, typically obliterated with adipose tissue and closed at the external meatus.
• Postoperative infection of this obliterated cavity presents a significant challenge, potentially leading to meningitis due to the inability to perform standard external drainage.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a case of an infected obliterated mastoid cavity following tumor surgery.
• To describe the successful treatment of such a complex infection using a temporalis muscle flap.

Main Methods:

• A patient with a postoperative infected obliterated mastoid cavity was identified.
• Treatment involved the application of a temporalis muscle flap to address the infection and reconstruct the defect.

Main Results:

• The temporalis muscle flap successfully closed the dead space within the temporal bone.
• The treatment resulted in a favorable outcome for the patient, resolving the infection and preventing further complications.

Conclusions:

• The temporalis muscle flap is an effective reconstructive option for managing infected obliterated cavities in the temporal bone after otologic tumor surgery.
• This technique addresses both the infectious challenge and the anatomical defect, leading to successful patient recovery.