Outcomes of Modified Canal Wall Down Mastoidectomy and Mastoid Obliteration Using Autologous Materials.

OBJECTIVES: The traditional canal wall down mastoidectomy (CWDM) procedure commonly has potential problems of altering the anatomy and physiology of the middle ear and mastoid. This study evaluated outcomes in patients who underwent modified canal wall down mastoidectomy (mCWDM) and mastoid obliteration using autologous materials.
METHODS: Our study included 76 patients with chronic otitis media, cholesteatoma, and adhesive otitis who underwent mCWDM and mastoid obliteration using autologous materials between 2010 and 2015. Postoperative hearing airbone gap and complications were evaluated.
RESULTS: During the average follow-up of 64 months (range, 20 to 89 months), there was no recurrent or residual cholesteatoma or chronic otitis media. No patient had a cavity problem and anatomic integrity of the posterior canal wall was obtained. There was a significant improvement in hearing with respect to the postoperative air-bone gap (P<0.05). A retroauricular skin depression was a common complication of this technique.
CONCLUSION: The present study suggests that our technique can prevent various complications of the classical CWDM technique using autologous tissues for mastoid cavity obliteration. It is also an appropriate method to obtain adequate volume for safe obliteration.

INTRODUCTION

The goals of mastoidectomy surgery are firstly to eradicate disease and secondly to reconstruct the normal anatomy of the middle ear. Canal wall down mastoidectomy (CWDM) procedures have advantages over canal wall up mastoidectomy (CWUM) procedures in that a residual cholesteatoma can be found easily in a follow-up evaluation and recurrent disease occurs at a lower rate [1-3]. Meatoplasty is an essential part of the traditional CWDM. However, traditional CWDM procedures combined with meatoplasty have a common problem of potentially altering the anatomy and physiology of the middle ear and mastoid leading to frequent mastoid cavity problems such as a draining ear followed by the accumulation of keratin debris [4]. Moreover, this procedure also can result in difficulty fitting a hearing aid, vertigo attacks following temperature or pressure changes, and alteration of the position of the pinna [5,6].

The retraction pocket is due to the negative pressure produced from the preserved air-filled mastoid cavity [7]. A retraction pocket results from a poorly functioning eustachian tube and leads to erosion of the scutum and formation of a cholesteatoma. Several surgical methods have been reported to prevent the occurrence of retraction pockets [8,9]. Mastoid and epitympanic obliteration is performed to minimize the dead space in the mastoid cavity and obliterate the epitympanic space. Several materials have been suggested for mastoid and epitympanic obliteration such as a pedicled flap [10,11], fat [12], cartilage [13, 14], bone pate [12,15], homogenous bone chips [11], and hydroxyapatite [13,16].

The authors designed a new technique to avoid problems resulting from meatoplasty and to prevent a retraction pocket. The connection between the mastoid cavity and the middle ear was blocked by obliterating the epitympanum with concha cartilage. Bone pate was used to smooth the mastoid bowl and the remaining mastoid cavity was obliterated by an extended inferior based flap (IBF). The present study investigated the outcomes of patients who underwent modified canal wall down mastoidectomy (mCWDM) and mastoid obliteration using autologous materials.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Ethical considerations

The authors had no ethical concerns in performing this retrospective study. This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Soonchunhyang University (IRB No. 2018-04-017) and informed consent was waived.

Subjects

Between January 2010 and December 2015, 76 patients who underwent mCWDM and mastoid obliteration using autologous materials were considered for enrollment. We included patients with (1) chronic otitis media (n=22), (2) cholesteatoma (n=30), and (3) adhesive otitis (n=24). All patients had a sclerotic mastoid diagnosed by temporal bone computed tomography. Moreover mCWDM and mastoid obliteration using autologous materials were performed by a single surgeon (JDL). We excluded patients who underwent revision surgery.

Surgical techniques

Under general anesthesia, a conventional retroauricular incision was made 0.5–1 cm posterior to the attachment of the auricle. With electrocautery, the cut was advanced anteriorly toward the external auditory canal while preserving connective tissue layers. The temporalis muscle area was exposed widely and the temporalis muscle fascia was harvested. An extended IBF including the temporalis muscle was designed and elevated. Healthy cortical bone pate from only the temporal area was collected in a glass bottle by using a cutting bur. It was then mixed with a povidone-iodine solution and dried. A retrograde (inside out) mastoidectomy was performed to drill out all air cells with preservation of the posterior external auditory canal skin flap. Pathologic lesions such as a cholesteatoma, retraction pocket, and eroded ossicles were removed. The antrum and epitympanic space superior to the tympanic segment of the facial nerve were obliterated with crushed cartilage. The cartilage was harvested from concha cartilage and crushed in a cartilage crusher by Cottle mallet. Fibrin sealant (Baxter AG, Vienna, Austria) was used to support the crushed cartilage and prevent it from falling into the middle ear. All mastoid recesses and the cavity itself were filled with bone pate, which was smoothed and flattened on the bowlike mastoid. The remaining mastoid cavity was obliterated with an extended IBF. A temporalis muscle fascia graft was placed on the IBF and reconstruction of the tympanic membrane was performed. The surgical procedure is shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 1.

Schematic drawings of the procedure: modified canal wall down mastoidectomy and mastoid obliteration using autologous materials. (A) A complete mastoidectomy is performed. (B) The antrum and epitympanic space superior to the tympanic segment of the facial nerve are obliterated with crushed cartilage harvested from concha cartilage. (C) Bone pate is used to smooth the mastoid bowl. (D) The remaining mastoid cavity is obliterated with an extended inferior based flap (IBF). (E) A temporalis muscle fascia graft is placed on the IBF and reconstruction of the tympanic membrane is performed.

The tympanic membrane and mastoid cavity were examined initially 2 weeks after surgery using a surgical microscope. The patients had 1-month follow-up visit, 3-month interval follow-up visit, and 6-month interval follow-up visits thereafter.

Postoperative outcomes

The follow-up duration after surgery averaged 64 months and ranged from 20 to 89 months. One staged ossicular reconstruction was performed for hearing gain for all patients during the CWDM. A type T3 tympanoplasty (the columella over the stapes head) with concha cartilage was performed for 56 patients, a type T4 tympanoplasty (the columella over the footplate) with concha cartilage was performed for 15 patients, and a type T0 tympanoplasty (tympanization) was performed for five patients.

Hearing outcomes were evaluated by comparing pre- and postoperative air-bone gaps 12 months after surgery. The hearing outcome was evaluated by the average hearing thresholds at four frequencies (500, 1,000, 2,000, and 3,000 Hz) according to the 1995 American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery guidelines [17]. Postoperative complications after mCWDM and mastoid obliteration using autologous materials were also investigated.

Statistical analysis

For the statistical analysis, we used Origin 8 software (OriginLab, Northampton, MA, USA). The average air-bone gap values before and after the staged operation were evaluated using the two-tailed Student t-test. Differences in postoperative air-bone gap values among patients with chronic otitis media, cholesteatoma, and adhesive otitis were evaluated using a one-way analysis of variance. The Pearson correlation was used to assess correlations between the postoperative air-bone gap and each disease. A P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

Seventy-six patients (29 male and 47 female patients) who underwent mCWDM and mastoid obliteration using autologous materials were included in this study. The mean age at which the patients underwent surgery was 49.9±10.9 years. The characteristics of the patients are summarized in Table 1.

Table 1.

Demographics of the patients

Variable	Value
Male:female	29:47
Age (yr)	49.9±10.9
Follow-up duration (mo)	64 (20–89)
Disease pattern	76
Chronic otitis media	22 (28.9)
Cholesteatoma	30 (39.5)
Adhesive otitis	24 (31.6)

Values are presented as mean±standard deviation, median (range), or number (%).

Hearing results

Of all 76 patients who underwent one staged operation and pure tone audiometry at the 12-month follow-up, 11 (14.5%) showed a postoperative air-bone gap value of 0–10 dB hearing level (HL) and 28 (36.8%) showed a postoperative air-bone gap value of 10–20 dB HL. A postoperative air-bone gap value of 20–30 dB HL was observed in 23 patients (30.3%) and a value >30 dB HL was observed in 14 patients (18.4%). Hearing results at 12 months after the surgery are shown in Table 2.

Table 2.

Postoperative hearing outcomes at 12 months after surgery

Postoperative air-bone gap	No. of cases (%)
0–10 dB HL	11 (14.5)
10–20 dB HL	28 (36.8)
20–30 dB HL	23 (30.3)
>30 dB HL	14 (18.4)
Total	76 (100)

HL, hearing level.

The average air-bone gap values were 26.7±10.9 dB HL before the operation and 20.8±10.8 dB HL after the operation (P=0.001). Postoperative hearing outcomes improved significantly after the operation. Postoperative air-bone gap values, according to disease patterns, are shown in Fig. 2. The postoperative air-bone gap value differed significantly among patients with chronic otitis media, cholesteatoma, and adhesive otitis (P=0.029). Postoperative air-bone gap values differed significantly between patients with chronic otitis media and cholesteatoma (P=0.025). Postoperative air-bone gap values did not differ significantly between patients with chronic otitis media and adhesive otitis, or between patients with cholesteatoma and adhesive otitis (P=0.363 and P=0.803, respectively).

Fig. 2.

The postoperative air-bone gap values among patients with various disease patterns. The number above each bar represents the number of patients. HL, hearing level. *P<0.05.

Restoration of anatomy

All patients showed restored external auditory canal anatomy after mCWDM and mastoid obliteration using autologous materials. No patient complained of any problem such as ear discharge followed by an accumulation of keratin debris or dizziness according to temperature or pressure changes.

We present two representative cases that underwent mCWDM and mastoid obliteration using autologous materials. Fig. 3 shows the pre- and postoperative findings (Supplementary Material 1, Video clip 1) of a patient with chronic otitis media and Fig. 4 and Supplementary Material 2 (Video clip 2) shows the case of a patient with a cholesteatoma. The hearing outcomes and external auditory canal restorations were favorable.

Fig. 3.

Pre- and postoperative findings in a patient with chronic otitis media in the left ear. (A) A preoperative finding of a perforated left anterior drum. (B) A computed tomography scan obtained before surgery shows chronic otitis media in the left ear (blue lines; right ear, red lines). (C) Preoperative audiometry shows an air-bone gap in the left ear. (D) One-year postoperative external auditory canal findings after posterior wall reconstruction and mastoid obliteration. (E) One-year postoperative audiometry shows improvement in the air-bone gap in the left ear.

Fig. 4.

Pre- and postoperative findings in a patient with a cholesteatoma in the right ear. (A) A preoperative finding of attic destruction in the right ear. (B) A computed tomography scan obtained before surgery shows a cholesteatoma in the right ear. (C) Preoperative audiometry shows an air-bone gap in the right ear (red lines; left ear, blue lines). (D) The external auditory canal is well maintained postoperatively, 1 year after posterior wall reconstruction and mastoid obliteration. (E) One-year postoperative audiometry shows an improvement in the air-bone gap in the right ear.

Surgical complications

Two of 76 patients (2.6%) experienced dry drum perforations and another two patients (2.6%) developed myringitis and were administered antibiotic eardrops. There was no recurrence of infection, cholesteatoma or adhesion. The external auditory canal was well maintained in all patients and no patient experienced a cavity problem; moreover, there was no bone pate infection. Surgical complications are described in Table 3. A retroauricular skin depression was very common in patients who underwent mCWDM and mastoid obliteration using autologous materials (Fig. 5). However, the posterior ear canal was well maintained and the retroauricular skin depression was minor, which presented no functional or cosmetic problem.

Table 3.

Postoperative complications of mCWDM and mastoid obliteration using autologous materials

Complication	Case (n=76)
Recurrence	0
Cavity problem	0
Bone pate infection	0
Dry TM perforation	2 (2.6)
Myringitis	2 (2.6)

Values are presented as number (%).

mCWDM, modified canal wall down mastoidectomy; TM, tympanic membrane.

Fig. 5.

A retroauricular skin depression is commonly observed in patients after modified canal wall down mastoidectomy and mastoid obliteration using autologous materials. The retroauricular skin depression (arrow, A) was minor, which presented no cosmetic problem (B).

DISCUSSION

The patients who undergo a traditional CWDM with meatoplasty suffer from cavity problems such as an intermittently draining ear followed by the accumulation of keratin debris, frequent vertigo attacks following temperature or pressure changes, and difficulty fitting a hearing aid [5,10]. Our surgical techniques for mCWDM and mastoid obliteration using autologous materials overcome these problems by mastoid obliteration with autologous crushed cartilage and bone pate and convey the advantages of CWDM, which eradicates the disease. Many studies suggested that posterior wall reconstruction with several materials could avoid cavity problems following CWDM [12,18-20]. However, posterior wall reconstruction is not often maintained because of absorption and defects in the reconstructed posterior wall, which finally leads to a retraction pocket [21]. Ikeda et al. [22] reported that out of 103 patients with a cholesteatoma who underwent posterior wall reconstruction, six patients showed retraction of the reconstructed posterior wall within 2 years. Our surgical techniques avoid cavity problems by only mastoid obliteration with an extended IBF and by using autologous crushed cartilage and bone pate to make a smooth mastoid bowl. Moreover, no patient demonstrated a mastoid cavity problem among all 76 patients.

One of the merits of our surgical technique using autologous crushed cartilage and bone pate is a lower risk of infection. The concha cartilage was harvested and used to block the connection between the mastoid cavity and middle ear by obliterating the epitympanum. Bone pate was only collected from healthy cortical bone underneath the temporalis muscle after elevation of the IBF. We have used autologous bone pate for mastoid obliteration to make a smoothly contoured cavity after eradicating the disease. Grafted autologous bone pate was reported to be transformed into new bone and contributed to the maintenance of volume without inflammation [19,23]. Additionally, autologous bone pate is known to be more biocompatible than artificial materials [24]. Artificial materials such as hydroxyapatite, silicone, and synthetic bone were reported to be used for mastoid obliteration, but are relatively expensive and often lead to integration failure and infection [25].

The primary goal of tympanomastoidectomy is to eliminate the disease and restore the anatomy. However, hearing reconstruction is an important secondary factor. The hearing outcomes of our surgical technique were satisfactory even though only one staged operation was performed. Of the 76 patients who underwent one staged operation, 39 (51.3%) demonstrated a postoperative air-bone gap less than 20 dB HL. We performed a second staged operation in patients with an air-bone gap greater than 20 dB HL when postoperative temporal bone computed tomography showed a well-healed and aerated middle ear (data not shown). A second staged operation was performed at 1 year after mCWDM and mastoid obliteration using autologous materials. Gantz et al. [11] reported the surgical outcomes of removing and replacing the posterior canal wall and mastoid obliteration with bone pate in patients with chronic otitis media with a cholesteatoma. Among all 80 patients who underwent surgery, 22 patients (50%) had a postoperative air-bone gap less than 20 dB HL. Lee et al. [12] reported that 151 patients with a cholesteatoma underwent a mastoid and epitympanic obliteration technique and then 56 cases were able to undergo a staged operation to regain hearing. Finally, 37 patients (24.5%) demonstrated a postoperative air-bone gap less than 20 dB HL.

The present study shows that no patient had recurrent chronic otitis media, cholesteatoma, or adhesive otitis. Recurrent disease after CWUM results most commonly from the redevelopment of retraction pockets, which might be caused by continuing poor eustachian tube function. CWDM can visualize the entire middle ear, sinus tympani, mastoid cavity, and whole epitympanum. Removing the head of the malleus and cog allows for inspection of the anterior epitympanum. This helps to complete disease elimination with lower rates of recurrence. The mCWDM and mastoid obliteration using autologous materials resulted in no recurrence complication, cavity problem, or bone pate infection.

A limitation of the present study is that the follow-up duration was approximately 5 years, and more long-term follow-up results would be more convincing. Retraction pockets are known to develop after long-term follow-up periods and lead to recurrent cholesteatoma [3,26,27]. Additionally, another limitation of this technique is the possibility of a hidden cholesteatoma within the obliterated epitympanum and antrum. The differentiation of a cholesteatoma from postoperative changes such as granulation is not easy on temporal bone computed tomography. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a reliable modality to detect a cholesteatoma within the obliterated mastoid cavity. Aarts et al. [28] reported that the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of cholesteatoma detection by three non-echo-planar diffusion-weighted MRI scans were all 97%. Long-term outcomes and follow-up imaging studies of patients who underwent mCWDM and mastoid obliteration using autologous materials should be investigated further.

In conclusion, we suggest that mCWDM and mastoid obliteration using autologous materials eradicates disease in the middle ear and epitympanum by direct visualization and prevents common complications of the traditional CWDM technique. Our surgical technique is an appropriate method to obtain adequate volume for mastoid obliteration with autologous bone and cartilage safely and cost-effectively.

▪ The traditional canal wall down mastoidectomy with meatoplasty procedure commonly has potential problems of altering the anatomy and physiology of the middle ear and mastoid.

▪ Modified canal wall down mastoidectomy and mastoid obliteration using autologous materials without meatoplasty has no cavity problem.

▪ Modified canal wall down mastoidectomy and mastoid obliteration significantly improves in hearing with respect to the postoperative air-bone gap.

▪ This surgical technique can prevent various complications of the classical canal wall down mastoidectomy technique using autologous tissues for mastoid cavity obliteration.