Chronic infection of the middle ear and cholesteatoma can be treated surgically by exenteration of the mastoid air cells behind the ear. After a procedure with the canal wall–down technique, a cavity remains that is sometimes difficult to clean, collects crust, and becomes repeatedly infected. Such problematic mastoid cavities can be eliminated by filling the created cavity surgically after thorough removal of mucous membranes and cleaning of the bone.
Methods
We treated 7 patients with cavities after canal wall–down surgery for the treatment of chronic suppurative otitis media or cholesteatoma by filling the difficult-to-clean cavity in the mastoid cell area with granules of bioactive glass (BAG) S53P4 to avoid further retraction formation. The area with BAG was carefully closed with a musculoperiosteal flap.
Results
After the canal wall–down tympanomastoidectomy, the mastoid cavities were successfully filled in all 7 patients. No biomaterial-associated infection was seen, and no disadvantages for the patients due to the BAG were observed. The cavity in the mastoid cell area decreased in size in all patients treated.
Conclusions
This BAG seems to be a promising material for filling mastoid cavities after canal wall–down tympanomastoidectomy.
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