Meningitis and congenital fistula of the internal ear

Congenital CSF otorrhea is seldom the cause of meningitis but has to be looked for especially if associated with a dead ear or with recurrent meningitis. Polytomograms of the mastoids are essential to rule out any abnormality of the internal ear. Three patients with a congenital CSF otorrhea and associated meningitis are reviewed. They all presented a Mondini type of dysplasia and had an oval window fistula. They were treated successfully with fascia and muscle obliteration of the vestibule.