Management of canal stenosis with a transposition flap

Stenosis of the external auditory canal is difficult to manage. Numerous surgical procedures have been advocated for its correction and all function to varying degrees, but repeat stenosis remains a problem. Our experience, with the use of a superiorly based preauricular transposition flap in combination with an endaural and postauricular approach in 5 patients, 8 ears, is presented. In 3 patients, 5 ears, the stenosis was congenital; in 1 patient, 1 ear, traumatic; and in 1 patient, 2 ears, secondary to chronic external otitis. With a follow-up of 1 to 9 years, the functional and cosmetic results have been satisfactory in all cases.