title: The Z-meatoplasty for modified radical mastoidectomy in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effectiveness of the Z-meatoplasty technique for enlargement of the external auditory meatus of children undergoing modified radical mastoidectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pediatric otolaryngology practice in an academic setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive sample of children (< or =18 years old) who had undergone modified radical mastoidectomy performed by the author from 1995 to 2005.
  
  
  METHODS
  Z-meatoplasty technique used as part of modified radical mastoidectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Development of postoperative stenosis of the external auditory meatus that required additional surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 28 children and 29 ears were treated with modified radical mastoidectomy during the study period. The Z-meatoplasty was used in 24 ears, and 3 (12.5%) required revision meatoplasty for meatal stenosis. Twenty-one ears (87.5%) treated with Z-meatoplasty had excellent healing and cosmesis without stenosis, during a mean follow-up period of 40 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Z-meatoplasty is an effective technique for use during modified radical mastoidectomy to treat children with cholesteatoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287-0910, USA. dtunkel@jhmi.edu
authors.forename: David E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Tunkel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018424:Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004424:Ear Canal / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008416:Mastoid / Q000601:surgery*; D013506:Otologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome