title: Congenital aural atresia surgery: long-term results.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study goal was to evaluate the stability of hearing results from short- to long-term follow-up in patients who underwent surgery for congenital aural atresia. We also reviewed complications such as external auditory canal stenosis, lateralization and perforation of the tympanic membrane, sensorineural hearing loss, and facial palsy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a retrospective chart review of 116 patients who underwent congenital aural atresiaplasty between 1985 and 2002 at the House Ear Clinic. There were 116 atretic ears. Complication rates and short- and long-term (up to 13.6 years) hearing results were evaluated for primary and revision cases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Closure of the air-bone gap (ABG) to 30 dB or less at short-term follow-up occurred in 58.5% of primary surgeries and 56% of revisions. The long-term postoperative ABG was 30 dB or less in 50.8% of the primary cases and 39.1% of the revisions. Paired comparison analysis found no significant change in ABG from short- to long-term follow-up for either primary or revision cases. Soft tissue stenosis was seen in 8% of primary surgeries and 3.4% of revisions. Ossicular chain refixation was seen in 11.5% and 6.9% of primary and revision surgeries, respectively. There were no dead ears.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Atresiaplasty surgery in individuals with congenital aural atresia can yield reliable, lasting hearing results with a low incidence of complications.
authors.affiliation: House Ear Clinic, University of Southern California School of Medicine, USA. polvera@hei.org
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De la Cruz
authors.forename: Karen Borne
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Teufert
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004431:Ear, External / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome