[Acquired postinflammatory stenosis of the external auditory canal].

There are only few publications about acquired postinflammatory stenosis of the auditory canal, its etiology, its progress and an adequate therapy. Chronic inflammatory processes of the ear canal, the tympanic membrane or the middle ear could lead to a replacement of the origin epithelium by fibrotic tissue and ends in a total obliteration of the ear canal. Lateral parts of the canal remain open and have the form of a blind-ending sac. Patients can suffer from severe conductive hearing loss. Treatment implies local therapy in the first stadium of the disease, then in the second one surgical removement of the fibrotic tissue is indicated before ear drum and bony canal are covered with skin graft. This technique results in stable, wide ears with good hearing. Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart, New York.