[Exenteration: taboo of cholesteatomatous chronic otitis. Opinion based upon personal experience (author's transl)]

The authors recall that in cholesteatomatous chronic otitis exenteration should be performed only as a last resort. This accepted, to wish to present it as an opprobious operation responsible for all evils is excessive. In 288 cases of cholesteatomatous chronic otitis treated between 1971 and 1978 (out of 433 cases of progressive otitis) 241 were treated surgically by the technique involving destruction of the osseous meatus. Amongst these 241 exenterations, there were 106 (i. e. 40%) in which the indication was absolute since they involved ears which were either cophotic or had already undergone exenteration. Reviewing a recent study of the local appearance in 225 cases of exenteration including 198 for cholesteatoma, they find 84% of ears perfectly dried up and healing in the long term. With regard to the restoration of healing, this problem arose, later, in only 6% of cases.