Histopathology of the temporal bone after open mastoid surgery

The ear that is deaf and continues to discharge after radical or modified radical mastoidectomy remains an unsolved problem for the otologist. The temporal bones of 17 patients in whom open mastoidectomy had been done during their life time were serially sectioned and examined. Histological changes secondary to surgery and chronic infection are described. The study fails to reveal a specific cause for unhealed areas in the mastoid bowl. It is suggested that the unhealed areas are caused by the unhealthy physical environment for the surface epithelium.