Canal wall reconstruction in cholesteatoma surgeries: rate of residual

Canal-wall up cholesteatoma surgery with mastoid obliteration leads to lower rates of disease recurrence without affecting hearing outcomes

Objectives

The primary objective was to determine whether obliteration of the epitympanic area and mastoid cavity during canal wall up (CWU) cholesteatoma surgery reduces the rate of recurrent and residual cholesteatoma compared to not obliterating the same area. The secondary objective was to compare postoperative hearing outcomes between both techniques.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was conducted in a tertiary referral center. One-hundred-fourty-three ears were included of patients (≥18y) who underwent a CWU tympanomastoidectomy for cholesteatoma with or without bony obliteration between January 2015 and March 2020 in the University Medical Center Utrecht. The median follow-up was respectively 1.4 (IQR 1.1-2.2) vs. 2.0 years (IQR 1.2-3.1) (p = 0.013).

Interventions

All patients underwent CWU tympanomastoidectomy for cholesteatoma. For 73 ears bone dust, Bonalive® or a combination was used for obliteration of the mastoid and epitympanic area, the rest of the ears (n = 70) were not obliterated. In accordance with the Dutch protocol, included patients are planned to undergo an MRI scan with diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) one, three and five years after surgery to detect recurrent or residual cholesteatoma.

Main outcome measures

The primary outcome measure was recurrent and residual cholesteatoma as evaluated by MRI-DWI and/or micro-otoscopy and confirmed by micro-otoscopy and/or revision surgery. The secondary outcome measure was the postoperative hearing.

Results

In this cohort, the group treated with canal wall up tympanomastoidectomy with subsequent bony obliteration (73 ears, 51.0%) had significantly lower recurrent (4.1%) and residual (6.8%) cholesteatoma rates than the group without obliteration (70 ears, 25.7% and 20.0%, respectively; p < 0.001). There was no significant difference between both groups in postoperative bone conduction thresholds (mean difference 2.7 dB, p = 0.221) as well as the mean air-bone gap closure 6 weeks after surgery (2.3 dB in the non-obliteration and 1.5 dB in the obliteration group, p = 0.903).

Conclusions

Based on our results, a canal wall up tympanomastoidectomy with bony obliteration is the treatment of choice, since the recurrent and residual disease rate is lower compared to the group without obliteration. The bony obliteration technique does not seem to affect the perceptive or conductive hearing results, as these are similar between both groups.

Comparative Analysis of Various Materials Used for Mastoid Cavity Obliteration in Canal Wall Down Mastoid Surgery

To study the surgical result and efficacy of different methods of mastoid obliteration with cavity care. This prospective study included 60 patients who had cholesteatoma, conducted in the Department of Ear Nose and Throat (ENT), Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi from July 2015 to July 2017. The mastoid cavity was obliterated with either muscle flap/bone dust/hydroxyapatite. detailed history otoscopic examination was done pre-operatively and follow up were recorded at 1 month and 3 months in postoperative period. 60 patients were included, who underwent canal wall down mastoid surgery. each group muscle flap (group 1), bone dust (group 2) and hydroxyapatite (group 3) included 20 patients, age group 31-40 year with its maximum incidence of 43.3%, Preop PTA value were almost equal in all group but on comparison at 1 month in postoperative period significant improvement was present in group 1 versus 2(0.021) and group 2 versus 3(0.003) but not in group 1 versus 3. Although at 3 month there were significant improvement was present in all groups. The incidence of pain, discharge, giddiness and wax formation were markedly reduced and healing of cavities was early and better in obliterated cavities done by muscle flap and bone dust material as compared to hydroxyapatite cavities, at the end of 3 months. outcome and quality of life was better and almost equal in muscle flap and bone dust material group as compared to hydroxyapatite group.

Mastoid obliteration with hydroxyapatite vs. bone pâté in mastoidectomy surgery performed on patients with cholesteatoma and chronic suppurative otitis media: a retrospective analysis

PURPOSE

To compare the efficacy and safety of hydroxyapatite vs. bone pâté as obliteration material in mastoidectomy surgery for patients with chronic suppurative otitis media and cholesteatoma.

METHODS

This is a retrospective, multi-center, cohort study. All patients were followed up with micro-otoscopy, audiometry, and, if indicated, MRI with diffusion-weighted imaging. The following outcome parameters were analyzed: procedure safety (wound infections and complications), cholesteatoma recidivism rates (residual/recurrent), control of infection (Merchant's scale), and hearing results (pure-tone averages at 500/1000/2000/4000 Hz).

RESULTS

Eighty-three cases were included: 45 obliterated with hydroxyapatite and 38 with bone pâté, with a mean follow-up time of, respectively, 25 and 24 months. Wound infections were only detected in the bone pâté group (4.8%) and successfully treated with oral or intravenous antibiotics and surgical drainage (p = 0.026). No other major surgical complications were observed in both groups. Cholesteatoma recidivism was observed in 15% using hydroxyapatite and 12% using bone pâté (p = 0.471). Complete control of infection (Merchant 0) was achieved in 76.2% using bone pâté and 86.8% using hydroxyapatite at 12 months postoperatively (p = 0.223). All patients showed good postoperative healing without complete failure to manage infection (Merchant 3). Pre- and postoperative audiometry showed significant improvement in hearing results in both groups. No significant difference between the obliteration materials was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Evaluation of mastoid obliteration reveals that hydroxyapatite and bone pâté are safe and effective obliteration materials, with high success rates in achieving a dry ear, low recidivism rates, and good hearing outcome, respecting the short-term limitation. In addition, our study shows that hydroxyapatite results in fewer postoperative wound infections compared to bone pâté.

Mastoid obliteration and canal wall reconstruction with posterior auricular artery (PAA) fascia-periosteum flap

OBJECTIVE

Unstable cavities are defined as cavities with cerumen accumulation that need frequent cavity cleaning in the out-patient clinic, cavities that are intolerant to water due to risk of infection or that are subject to frequent infection and otorrhoea. The objective of this study is to address the problem of troublesome mastoid cavities, with the performance of secondary mastoid obliteration and canal wall reconstruction, using a novel posterior auricular artery (PAA) fascia-periosteum flap.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A prospective study was designed, only secondary obliterations were included. Unstable mastoid cavities were defined as Merchant grade 2 or 3 and were included for surgery.

RESULTS

At 12 months of follow up, a complete external auditory canal (EAC) and a self-cleaning ear were achieved in all 23 patients. Completely dry ears were achieved in 21 patients (91.3%). An air-bone gap improvement of 5dB was achieved.

CONCLUSION

Mastoid obliteration and EAC reconstruction are effective procedures to treat troublesome post canal wall down mastoid cavities. They improve quality of life and enable patients to overcome ear discharge. A standard EAC size enables the utilization of conventional hearing aids, it also reduces the need for constant mastoid cleaning and decreases healthcare expenses. The PAA flap seems to be an effective procedure to achieve all these features, as it is used to obliterate the mastoid and becomes a structural component of the neo-EAC.

Mastoid Obliteration Decreases the Recurrent and Residual Disease: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

Our study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of mastoid obliteration compared to the canal wall up (CWU) technique in cholesteatoma surgery based on the systematic review of the literature and the meta-analysis of the data.

METHODS

The systematic search was performed in four major databases (MEDLINE, Web of Science, Embase, and CENTRAL) on October 14, 2021. Studies comparing the CWU technique and mastoid obliteration were included. The exclusion criteria were less than 12 months follow-up, congenital cholesteatoma, indefinite description of the surgical method, and animal studies. The protocol was registered on Prospero (registration number: CRD42021282485). The risk of bias was evaluated with the ROBINS-I tool. Residual and recurrent disease proportions as primary outcomes, quality of life, ear discharge, infection rates, hearing results, and operation time as secondary outcomes were analyzed. In the quantitative synthesis, the random effect model was used, and heterogeneity was identified.

RESULTS

A total of 11 articles with 2077 operations' data were found eligible. All the identified studies were retrospective cohorts. The odds of pooled residual and recurrent disease proportion were significantly lower in the obliteration group compared to CWU (OR = 0.45, CI:0.28;0.80, p = 0.014). However, when separated, the proportion of ears with recurrent (OR = 0.41, CI:0.11;1.57, p = 0.140) or residual (OR = 0.59, CI:0.23, 1.50, p = 0.207) disease did not show a significant difference, even though the odds were quite similar. The qualitative synthesis identified no significant difference in the secondary outcomes, but obliteration elongated the operation time.

CONCLUSION

Mastoid obliteration significantly decreased the proportion of residual and recurrent cholesteatoma in pooled analyses compared to the CWU technique with low-quality of data.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

NA Laryngoscope, 2022.

Mid-term outcomes of mastoid obliteration with biological hydroxyapatite versus bioglass: a radiological and clinical study

PURPOSE

Radiological assessment of osseointegration of mastoid grafts: biological hydroxyapatite (Bio-Oss®) (BHA) versus bioglass S53P4 (Bonalive®) (BG).

METHODS

Retrospective (10 ± 4 months post-surgery) monocentric high resolution computed tomography (CT) scan assessment (November 2018 and October 2020) by two independent radiologists (R1, R2), blinded to patient allocation. All patients who had undergone a total mastoid obliteration were eligible. Excluded: complications namely otological acute or chronic infections, unbalanced metabolic disease, long-term cortico-steroid therapy, auto-immune disease, history of allergy to grafting materials and post-surgery CT scan in other centers (n = 8).

PRIMARY OUTCOMES

the ratio between two regions of interests (ROI) (graft to otic capsule).

SECONDARY OUTCOMES

resorption of mastoid grafts and assessment of clinical tolerance.

RESULTS

Included 21 patients (mean age: 29 ± 21 years; 5 females, 16 males). Significantly higher osseointegration for BHA vs. BG (R1 p = 0.043; R2 p = 0.004); almost perfect inter-reader agreement k = 0.922). The ROI ratios for BHA and BG to that of the otic capsule were 0.57 ± 0.11 (R1) and 0.59 ± 0.14 (R2); 0.43 ± 0.11 (R1) and 0.43 ± 0.08 (R2), respectively. Density increased significantly by 399 ± 261 Hounsfield units (HU) (p = 0.008) and decreased by 464 ± 161 HU (p < 0.001) for BHA vs. BG. Resorption rates were 24.1 ± 21.0% and 66.7 ± 15.1% (p = 0.076), respectively. No significant difference in clinical tolerance was observed.

CONCLUSION

Post-operative CT scan of mastoid obliteration seems reliable in assessment of biomaterial graft's mid-term feasibility and stability: BHA seems to provide a more optimal osseointegration versus BG with no significant differences in graft resorption and clinical tolerance.

Impact of Sclerotic Lesions on the Surgical Outcome of Cholesteatoma

OBJECTIVE

Cholesteatoma is occasionally accompanied by excessive calcification and presumably has different osteogenic dynamics compared to noncholesteatomous chronic otitis media. Cholesteatoma-related sclerotic lesions through the temporal bone can pose manipulatory difficulties, possibly leading to worse surgical outcomes or complications. Therefore, we compared surgical outcomes of cholesteatomas with and without sclerotic lesions.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

Tertiary academic medical center.

PATIENTS

Consecutive ears with acquired cholesteatomas requiring primary resection between January 2009 and December 2019. The ears followed up for <1 year were excluded.

INTERVENTIONS

Tympanoplasty with/without mastoidectomy.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Prevalence and location of sclerotic lesion, comorbid fistulae, postoperative air-bone gap, recidivism, and complications.

RESULTS

Overall, 19 (6.4%) of 299 ears had sclerotic lesions. More than two-thirds (68.4%) of sclerotic lesions were located adjacent to the lateral semicircular canal (LSC). Among ears with sclerotic lesions adjacent to the LSC, 46.2% had a comorbid fistula in the LSC. The prevalence of labyrinth fistula was significantly greater in ears with sclerotic lesions (42.1%) than in ears without sclerotic lesions (5.0%) (p < 0.0001, Fisher's exact test). Sensorineural hearing deterioration was significantly higher in ears with sclerotic lesions than in ears without (p = 0.0004, Fisher's exact test). Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the presence of sclerotic lesions was a significant prognostic factor for residual disease (odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 6.820 [2.055-22.633], p = 0.0017).

CONCLUSIONS

Surgeons should be conscious of preoperative identification of sclerotic lesions adjacent to one of the semicircular canals, possibly leading to postoperative sensorineural hearing deterioration or residual cholesteatoma.

Mastoid obliteration and reconstruction techniques: A review of the literature

OBJECTIVE

To review the published literature related to the different obliteration and reconstruction techniques in the management of the canal wall down mastoidectomy.

METHODS

A PubMed (Medline) and LILACS databases as well as crossed references search was performed with the following Mesh terms: "cholesteatoma", "cholesteatoma-middle ear", "otitis media", "otitis media, suppurative", "mastoiditis", "mastoidectomy", "canal wall down mastoidectomy", "radical mastoidectomy", "mastoid obliteration" and crossed references. Inclusion criteria were adult patients subject to mastoid cavity obliteration and posterior canal wall reconstruction. The technique and materials used, anatomic and functional results, complications, recurrence rates, and changes in quality of life, were analyzed. A total of 94 articles were screened, 38 were included for full-text detailed review.

RESULTS

Twenty-one articles fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Techniques and materials used for canal wall reconstruction, tympanoplasty, and ossiculoplasty were varied and included autologous, biosynthetic, or both. Auditory results were reported in 16 studies and were inconsistent. Three studies reported improvement in the quality of life using the GBI scale. Follow-up time ranged from 1 to 83 months. Eleven articles used imaging studies to evaluate postoperative disease recurrence. The highest recurrence rate reported for cholesteatoma after obliteration was 19%. The most frequently reported complications were retraction pockets and transient otorrhea.

CONCLUSION

Plenty of techniques combining grafts and other materials have been used to overcome mastoidectomy cavity problems. So far, it is still not possible to standardize an ideal procedure. The available level of evidence for this topic is low and limited.

Projected Cost Simulation in Chronic Ear Surgery: Cost in Chronic Ear Surgery

OBJECTIVE

To examine the projected healthcare costs of intact canal wall (ICW) and canal wall down (CWD) tympanomastoidectomy surgery and associated clinic follow-up visits in the management of chronic ear disease.

STUDY DESIGN

A review of literature was performed to analyze the cholesteatoma recidivism rates of ICW and CWD tympanomastoidectomy. Projected Medicare cost simulation applied to representative samples of patients undergoing otologic surgery and follow-up clinic appointments projected over 15 years with an annual 25% cholesteatoma recidivism rate.

SETTING

Tertiary academic center.

PATIENTS

Simulated patient population status postchronic ear surgery and representative follow-up clinic visits with or without in-office mastoid debridement procedures.

INTERVENTIONS

Therapeutic and rehabilitative.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Healthcare cost.

RESULTS

Simulation of cost for chronic ear surgery with follow-up visits produced a higher mean cost for the ICW group compared with the CWD group at year 1 ($9112.06 versus $4954.16). However, CWD patients accumulate cost over time due to routine mastoid debridements. The accumulated costs for the CWD group surpassed the ICW group at 12.54 (CI: 12.02-13.11) years.

CONCLUSIONS

Using a projected cost analysis model, intact canal wall tympanomastoidectomy incurs a larger upfront cost than the canal wall down technique. However, long-term mastoid cavity maintenance costs accumulate to surpass the intact canal wall group at 12.54 years.

Hearing and hearing rehabilitation after obliteration of troublesome mastoid cavities

Purpose

The purpose of this study is the evaluation of post-operative hearing threshold after revision surgery and obliteration of troublesome canal wall down mastoidectomy cavities (CWDMCs). The ability to use and tolerate conventional hearing aids (CHAs) was also evaluated.

Methods

A retrospective chart analysis of 249 patients with chronically draining CWDMCs who underwent revision surgery including obliteration of the mastoid cavity between 2007 and 2017 at the AMC location of the Amsterdam University Medical Centers (Amsterdam UMC) was performed. Patient characteristics, pre- and post-operative Merchant grade, surgical outcomes, pre- and post-operative hearing thresholds, and the ability/necessity to use a CHA or the ability/necessity to use a Bone Conduction Device (BCD) were recorded.

Results

Dry ears were found in 95% of the total cohort. Residual disease was detected in 1.6% during MRI follow-up with no residual cholesteatoma in the obliterated area. In 3.2% of the patients, recurrent disease was found. A significant improvement in mean air conduction level, mean bone conduction level, and mean air-bone gap (ABG) was found post-operatively (p < 0.05). For all types of ossicular chain reconstruction, a significant improvement in mean Pure Tone Average was observed (p < 0.05). The percentage of patients with an indication for CHA was similar pre- and post-operatively (67% both pre- and post-operatively). The ability to use a CHA improved from 3% pre-operatively to 57% post-operatively (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

This study shows that revision surgery and obliteration of CWDMCs enable successful CHA rehabilitation post-operatively. Upon this type of surgery, hearing thresholds improve significantly, but the need for rehabilitation with a CHA remains necessary in most cases.

Cost-comparison analysis of diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWMRI) versus second look surgery for the detection of residual and recurrent cholesteatoma

Background

Cholesteatoma is a destructive, erosive growth of keratinizing squamous epithelium in the middle ear cleft. Following treatment with a canal wall-up (CWU) tympanomastoidectomy, surveillance of residual and recurrent disease has traditionally been achieved through a second look tympanotomy following the initial procedure. Historically, MRI sequences have been inadequate at differentiating between granulation tissue, inflammation, and cholesteatoma. Recent literature has shown diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWMRI) to be a viable alternative to second look surgery for the detection of residual or recurrent disease. The goal of the present study was to perform a cost analysis of DWIMRI versus second look surgery in the detection of residual or recurrent cholesteatoma following combined approach tympanomastoidectomy.

Methods

A probabilistic decision tree model was generated from a literature review to compare traditional second look surgery with DWMRI. Cost inputs were obtained from the Ontario Case Costing Initiative, the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) schedule of benefits. Costs were reported in Canadian dollars and a payer perspective was adopted. A probabilistic sensitivity analysis was performed.

Results

According to the probabilistic sensitivity analysis, mean cost difference of traditional second look tympanotomy versus echo planar imaging (EPI) DWMRI was $180.27CAD, 95%CI [$177.32, $188,32] in favour of second-look tympanotomy. However, mean cost difference of traditional second look tympanotomy versus non-EPI DWMRI was $390.66CAD, 95%CI [$381.52, $399.80] in favour of non-EPI DWMRI.

Conclusions

Diffusion-weighted MRI, specifically non-EPI sequences, are a viable cost-saving alternative to second-look tympanotomy in the setting of detecting residual or recurrent cholesteatoma.

Influence of surgical technique on residual cholesteatoma location and prevalence

OBJECTIVE

Compared to canal wall up (CWU) tympanoplasty, canal wall reconstruction (CWR) allows better visualization of cholesteatoma extension. The canal wall up approach provides good functional outcomes, but with higher rates of residual cholesteatoma. The aim of this study was to compare residual cholesteatoma prevalence and location between the two approaches.

METHOD

Subjects were adult patients with residual cholesteatoma following CWU or CWR surgery between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2015. During this period, 94 patients underwent CWU and 71 CWR; 22 presented with residual cholesteatoma: 16 after CWU (R-CWU group) and 6 after CWR (R-CWR group).

RESULTS

There was no significant inter-group difference in residual cholesteatoma prevalence: 17% after CWU, 8.4% after CWR. Locations comprised: 13 (81%) in the attic, 9 (56%) in the tympanic cavity and 4 (25%) in the mastoid in the R-CWU group, and 6 (100%) in the attic in the R-CWR group. There were significantly fewer tympanic cavity locations after CWR compared to CWU (P=0.046).

CONCLUSION

Residual cholesteatoma prevalence did not significantly differ between the CWU and CWR approaches. The most frequent location was the attic; significantly more locations were in the tympanic cavity with the CWU approach. These findings are important for surgeons and neuro-radiologists during follow-up.

Posterior canal wall reposition for management of cholesteatoma: Technique and results

OBJECTIVE

The main goal of surgery in acquired middle ear cholesteatomas is the complete eradication of the disease with an ear free of discharge. This can be performed either by open or closed techniques with their benefits and drawbacks. We present the technique of reposition of the posterior canal wall for the management of cholesteatoma cases and its results and outcome.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This study included 31 patients with primary acquired middle ear cholesteatoma. The surgical technique included complete cortical mastoidectomy, wide posterior tympanotomy, dividing the bony posterior meatal wall with a micro-sagittal saw and its removal, dissection and eradication of cholesteatoma, and repositioning the canal wall segment in its anatomical site.

RESULTS

No significant intraoperative complication occurred. An injury to the dura occurred in one patient. Damage of the bony posterior canal wall occurred in two patients during saw cutting. Residual cholesteatoma was found in two patients. No dislocation or necrosis of the reconstructed posterior canal wall was noted and the new reconstructed external ear canal appeared to be of near normal size, shape, and contour.

CONCLUSION

This technique provides optimal surgical exposure and access to areas that are difficult to reach by CWU approach, allows removal of the cholesteatoma without intraoperative complications, decreases the rate of residual cholesteatoma, restores near-normal anatomy of the external auditory canal, and avoids the sequelae of the open mastoid cavity. Therefore, it would be a feasible alternative to the standard CWU and CWD procedures.