Outcomes of a novel alloplastic technique for external auditory canal repair in tympanomastoidectomy

Abstract

Objective

To analyze surgical outcomes of a novel alloplastic reconstruction technique for partial external auditory canal (EAC) defects in tympanomastoidectomy.

Methods

Retrospective study of 51 patients with cholesteatoma who underwent repair of partial EAC defects during tympanomastoidectomy at a tertiary referral center over 8 years. Nineteen patients were treated with a novel alloplastic graft technique using hydroxyapatite cement and bone pâté for EAC repair. Thirty‐two patients treated with traditional cartilage repair of the EAC served as a control group. The primary outcomes measured were postoperative cholesteatoma recurrence rates, infection rates, and mean air‐bone gap (ABG).

Results

Twenty of the 51 cases (39.2%) were revision surgeries for cholesteatoma recidivism, with a greater proportion of revision surgeries in the alloplastic group (57.9% vs 28.1%, P = .04). There was no significant difference in postoperative cholesteatoma recurrence ( P = 1.00) or infection rates ( P = .64) between the two techniques, with the alloplastic group experiencing slightly lower rates of recurrence (36.8%) and infection (5.3%) than cartilage repair (37.5% recurrence, 12.5% infection). Mean postoperative ABGs were comparable between the alloplastic (21.5 dB) and cartilage group (26.0 dB, P = .10).

Conclusions

Composite alloplastic and bone pâté reconstruction is an effective technique to repair partial EAC defects in tympanomastoidectomy, with comparable postoperative hearing outcomes and no increased risk of cholesteatoma recurrence or infection compared to traditional cartilage repair. Recidivism rates were relatively high in both groups, likely due to the high rate of revision surgeries and aggressive nature of cholesteatoma within the cohort.

Level of Evidence

Level 3B.

Abstract

A retrospective study was performed to evaluate the surgical outcomes of a novel alloplastic technique using hydroxyapatite cement and bone pâté to repair partial external auditory canal (EAC) defects in intact canal wall tympanomastoidectomy. The study demonstrated that this alloplastic technique provides a viable alternative to cartilage repair of the EAC, with comparable outcomes in regard to infection, cholesteatoma recurrence, and hearing results.