Ear protrusion after tympanoplasty and the use of mastoid dressing.
OBJECTIVE
This study aims to assess possible wound complications of tympanoplasty and tympanomastoidectomy with or without postoperative mastoid dressing.


METHODS
A total of 37 patients (22 females, 15 males; mean age: 23.88 years; range 9 to 64 years) who underwent middle ear or mastoid operations via postauricular incision were included in this prospective, randomized, controlled study. The patients were divided into two groups as having mastoid dressing (n=17) and nonmastoid dressing (n=20). Through a close follow-up, postoperative complications were noted and distance from mastoid scalp and auricular rim was measured.


RESULTS
The mean mastoid-helix distance of non-mastoid dressing group was found 17.2 mm in operated and 16.9 mm in non-operated ears. The mean mastoid-helix distance of mastoid dressing group was 15.53 mm in operated ears and 16.47 mm in non-operated ears. Skin erythema was seen in a patient. There was no statistically significant increase in mastoid-helix distance (p>0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Tympanoplasty with or without mastoidectomy does not cause postoperative complication or protrusion of the ear, even if no mastoid dressing is used. Our study results suggest no benefit of mastoid dressing after tympanoplasty with or without mastoidectomy.
Department of Otolaryngology, Medical Faculty of Afyon Kocatepe University, 03200 Afyonkarahisar, Turkey.
Erdoğan
E
Okur
Orhan Kemal
OK
Kahveci
Murat Cem
MC
Miman
Hüseyin
H
Yıldız
Abdullah
A
Ayçiçek
Ali
A
Altuntaş
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001458:Bandages; D002648:Child; D054644:Ear Auricle / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008416:Mastoid / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014433:Tympanoplasty / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult