Cholesteatoma surgery with the canal-wall-down technique.

This is a retrospective study of a limited group of 30 patients, children and adults, diagnosed as having cholesteatomas. Analysis includes audiological data and surgical results. Two techniques were used in surgery. In half of the cases, an obliteration technique was used, and in the remainder an open radical cavity was created. The method used was determined by the surgeon and in some measure by the extent of the disease. Our conclusions are that the obliteration technique offers better hearing results than the open-cavity technique. The number of residuals over a 4- to 5-year period was acceptable and cavity problems were avoided.