CAVITY PROBLEMS AND THEIR MANAGEMENT IN POST MODIFIED RADICAL MASTOIDECTOMY IN PEDIATRIC POPULATION - A CLINICAL AUDIT

Objective: To find out the intensity and frequency of cavity problems of persistent and recurrent ear discharge in young children and their management in post Modified Radical Mastoidectomy (MRM). Study Design: Cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of ENT Head & Neck Surgery, Lady Reading Hospital MTI Peshawar Pakistan, from Jan 2015 to Dec 2019. Methodology: Fifty-four patients with cavity problems of persistent and recurrent ear discharge needing treatment were included in the study (out of the total patients 234 operated upon). Patients were followed up for one year for any discharge of the mastoid cavity. Patients of both gender of age 15 years or younger were included in the study. Results: In this study the cavity problems were found in 23.1% (54 out of 234) of the post modified radical mastoidectomy in pediatric population. There were no surgery related problems in 61.1% patients. In 38.9% (21 out of 54) percent patients repeat mastoidectomy was performed. Where as in 37% (20 out of 54) excision of granulation and conservative management was sufficient in curing the disease. High facial ridge was found to be the most common cause of persistent/recurrent discharge 9 out of 54 (16.7%). The independent variables (Indications for repeat mastoidectomy, Factors causing discharge, Surgery related problems) support the dependent variable treatment outcome. The sig/p-value was zero therefore the result was significant. Conclusion: In post Modified Radical Mastoidectomy, the cavity can be dry provided meticulous care is given to complete exenteration of disease from all areas........

Modified Canal Wall Down Mastoidectomy Without Meatoplasty

It is important to decide which procedure to employ between canal wall up mastoidectomy and canal wall down mastoidectomy (CWDM) as each procedure has its own advantages and disadvantages. To combine the advantages and compensate the disadvantages of each procedure, various methods and approaches have been devised. Mastoid and epitympanic obliteration, which minimizes the dead space in the mastoid cavity, was previously known to prevent the occurrence of retraction pockets. We performed mastoid and epitympanic obliteration also to prevent the occurrence of cavity problems without meatoplasty. Here we describe the surgical procedures for modified CWDM without meatoplasty and mastoid obliteration using autologous materials.

Study of ossicular chain defects in patients with chronic otitis media

<p><strong>Background:</strong> Chronic otitis media (COM) is a long-standing disease of middle ear cleft and mastoid cavity having a permanent perforation in the tympanic membrane with or without discharge. It’s a worldwide health problem and it is still predominant in the modern antibiotic era. Aim<strong> </strong>was to determine the prevalence and types of ossicular chain defect in mucosal and squamosal type of COM. Also, to evaluate the hearing loss in relation to ossicular chain defect.</p><p><strong>Methods:</strong> The study was prospective observational study conducted in Bhopal over the duration of one year (January 2019 to June 2020). Patient aged 11-70 years reporting with COM were included in the study. Details regarding sociodemographic profile and extensive examination were recorded. Data was entered into MS excel 2007, analysis was done.</p><p><strong>Results:</strong> It was more prevalent in the age groups of 21-30years (39%) with female (53%) preponderance. Right sided ear was commonly involved (58%). Majority of the patients had tubo-tympanic disease (62%) whereas 38% had attico-antral disease. Ossicular chain was found intact in 33% cases. Average hearing loss was maximum (67.6 dBHL) when all ossicles are eroded. Hearing loss was minimum (33.6 dBHL) with isolated handle of malleus involvement.</p><p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> COM is one of the commonest causes of preventable hearing impairment in our society, hence early diagnosis and timely intervention is needed. Awareness among patients and doctors regarding the need for better ear hygiene is necessary.</p>

Mastoid cavity obliteration with bone dust: a retrospective study of 34 cases

<p><strong>Background: </strong>Chronic suppurative otitis media leads to ear discharge with hearing loss with squamosal type often presents with cholesteatoma and mainstay of treatment is surgical. Modified radical mastoidectomy is the ideal surgical option in these cases but it results in open mastoid cavity formation with certain common cavity problems. This study done to find the results of mastoid cavity obliteration with autologous bone dust and how this technique is effective in avoiding long term cavity problems and assists in ossiculoplasty.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This is a retrospective observational study done in a tertiary care hospital. Patients presented with squamosal type of chronic otitis media were operated for a canal wall down modified radical mastoidectomy.The mastoid cavity was obliterated using bone dust. A follow up of the patients was done and the healing of the cavity with the hearing result assessed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The study includes total of 34 patients. 58.82% were male and 41.18% were female. All patients underwent canal wall down modified radical mastoidectomy and obliteration of the mastoid cavity was done with bone dust. The common cavity problems of discharge, debris were markedly reduced in an obliterated cavity with better healing of the cavity. The middle ear aeration was maintained assisting the ossicular reconstruction.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study showed that mastoid cavity obliteration with bone dust offers significant long term benefits in providing dry, well epithelized cavity at the same time assisting in ossicular reconstruction.</p>

Mastoid Obliteration Using Bioactive Glass—Our Experience

Aims The aim of this study was to evaluate the surgical outcome of cavity obliteration with bioactive glass in patients with cholesteatoma undergoing canal wall down mastoidectomy with reconstruction of the canal wall. Materials and Methods A prospective study was conducted over a period of 3 years on 25 patients who underwent mastoid obliteration with bioactive glass following canal wall down mastoidectomy for cholesteatoma. The primary outcome measure was the presence of a dry, low-maintenance mastoid cavity that was free of infection, assessed, and graded according to the grading system by Merchant et al at the end of 1 and 6 months postoperatively. Secondary outcome measures included presence of postoperative complications like wound infection, posterior canal wall bulge, and residual perforation. Results Out of the 25 patients on whom this study was conducted, at the end of 1 month 60% had a completely dry ear, 28% of patients had grade 1, and 12% had grade 2 otorrhea at the end of the first month. At the end of 6 months, 72% had a completely dry ear, while 20% had grade 1 and 8% had grade 2 otorrhea. There were no cases with grade 3 otorrhea during the entire follow-up period. Postoperative complications of the posterior canal bulge were noted in two patients (8%), and one patient (4%) had a residual perforation. Conclusion Mastoid cavity obliteration with bioactive glass is an effective technique to avoid cavity problems.

Cholesteatoma Causing a Horizontal Semicircular Canal Fistula

Horizontal canal fistulas are not uncommon in patients with cholesteatoma. Patients with canal wall down cavities and exposed horizontal canal fistulas develop significant dizziness with wind or suction exposure. Obliteration of mastoid cavities in patients with exposed fistulas can be challenging. We describe a patient with horizontal canal fistula and chronic dizziness from wind exposure who underwent successful mastoid cavity obliteration with preservation of hearing. Patients with horizontal canal fistulas in a canal wall down cavity can be managed with mastoid obliteration for relief of dizziness.

A case study of post-auricular persistent mastoid cutaneous fistula closure by anteriorly based temporalis muscle flap and tempero-mastoid fascio-cutaneous-periosteal flap

<p class="abstract">Post-auricular cutaneous mastoid fistula (PAMCF) is a rare complication of chronic otitis media (COM), following complicate mastoid surgery and very rarely following congenital cholesteatoma. The failure rate with simple closure is high due to necrotic skin edges. Therefore several techniques for the closure of this fistula have been described. Post aural fistula after canal wall down (CWD) mastoidectomy can be successfully treated by fistula tract excision and obliterating the mastoid cavity. A 45 year old woman presented with discharging PAMCF, 10 years following radical mastoidectomy surgery. It was due to non-compliance of the patient, as she had not gone for follow up for 10 year following radical mastoidectomy. The temporo-mastoid fascio-cutaneous-periosteal advancement flap is effective for proper closure of the fistula and obliteration of the cavity by conchal cartilage along with anteriorly based vascularised pedicled temporalis muscle flap to ensure the viability of the flap and preventing the necrosis of the skin edges, henceforth the recurrence of the fistula.</p>

Temporal bone rhabdomyosarcoma mimicking otitis media complicated by facial nerve palsy

Background Rhabdomyosarcoma is common in childhood, especially, the head and neck region, yet involvement of the temporal bone is rare. Case presentation We reported a case of an embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma in a 4.5-year-old boy presenting with external auditory canal polyp and purulent otorrhea that later developed grade 6 facial palsy. Imaging showed soft tissue mass involving the middle ear, mastoid cavity, parotid gland, and parapharyngeal space. Subtotal petrosectomy with blind closure of the external auditory canal was performed with facial nerve decompression and debulking biopsy followed by combined chemoradiation. Conclusion Middle ear rhabdomyosarcoma is a rare pathology, usually present in childhood by symptoms similar to suppurative otitis media not responding to medical treatment leading to delayed diagnosis and development of complications.