Publication:

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

Background 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.

Methods 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.

Results 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.

Conclusions 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.