Postoperative accumulation of bone in the middle ear: effect on hearing and surgical implications

Two patients with conductive hearing loss caused by the intraoperative accumulation of bone particles in the middle ear are presented. This complication of otologic surgery may be prevented by an awareness of its possibility and by the temporary blockage of the aditus ad antrum in those operations involving mastoidectomy, even utilizing suction irrigation of the surgical field during the procedure. Once this condition is established, tympanotomy may confirm the presence of bone debris in the middle ear and the material may then be removed, with elimination of the conductive hearing loss.