Summary
Introduction: Chronic otitis media (COM) is an inflammatory condition associated with otorrhea
as well as large and persistent perforations of the tympanic membrane in some cases.
COM can also lead to cholesteatoma. Surgical treatment with canal wall-down and canal
wall-up tympanomastoidectomy is considered for both types of illness. The choice of
technique is controversial and is dependent on several factors, including the extent
of disease.
Objective: We aimed to evaluate surgical outcomes in COM patients with and without cholesteatoma
treated with canal wall-down and canal wall-up tympanomastoidectomy. Disease eradication
and post-operative auditory thresholds were assessed.
Method: Patient records from the otorhinolaryngology department of a tertiary hospital were
assessed retrospectively.
Results: Patients who underwent canal wall-up tympanomastoidectomy had a higher rate of revision
surgery, especially those with cholesteatoma. However, there were no statistically
significant differences in post-operative hearing thresholds between the two techniques.
Conclusion: The canal wall-down technique is superior to the canal wall-up technique, especially
for patients with cholesteatoma.
Keywords
Chronic Disease - Otitis Media - Hearing Loss - Cholesteatoma - Middle Ear - Reoperation
