Posterior canal wall reconstruction with a composite cartilage titanium mesh graft in canal wall down tympanoplasty and revision surgery for radical cavities.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate posterior external ear canal wall reconstruction with a composite cartilage titanium mesh graft in canal wall down tympanoplasty and revision surgery for open mastoids.


METHODS
Retrospective case review.


METHODS
Tertiary referral centre.


METHODS
As a preliminary study, 15 selected patients underwent reconstruction of a posterior ear canal wall defect with titanium mesh. Large defects of the posterior external auditory canal wall, resulting from canal wall down tympanoplasty or present in revision surgery, were eliminated by reconstruction using a titanium mesh. The mesh was covered with conchal cartilage and attached to the cortical mastoid bone using 3-mm titanium screws.


RESULTS
All patients maintained a normal contour of the external ear canal, without depression, extrusion or infection. There were no failures, based on short-term post-operative controls. However, two procedures had to be revised due to incomplete coverage of the titanium mesh.


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows that reconstruction of the posterior ear canal wall with a composite cartilage titanium mesh is a valuable method for preserving the morphology of the external auditory canal in selected cases. Problems occurring in canal wall down tympanomastoidectomy and radical cavities may therefore be avoided. However, long-term results have yet to be evaluated.
Sudhoff
H
H
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Bochum, Bochum, Germany. Holger.Sudhoff@ruhr-uni-bochum.de
Brors
D
D
Al-Lawati
A
A
Gimenez
E
E
Dazert
S
S
Hildmann
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001863:Bone Screws; D004424:Ear Canal / Q000601:surgery*; D004425:Ear Cartilage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008416:Mastoid / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013506:Otologic Surgical Procedures; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013526:Surgical Mesh; D014025:Titanium / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D014025:Titanium