Clinical Analysis of Intact Bridge Mastoidectomy

Kang, Hyun Wook; Lee, Ji Eun; Park, Jin Hyung; Park, Joon Ho; Lee, Dong Ik; Lee, Sang Heun; Cho, Tae Hwan

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE
Open cavity and closed cavity tympanomastoidectomy each has both advantages and disadvantages. In order to optimize advantages while reducing or eliminating disadvantages, intact bridge mastoidectomy was developed. The intact bridge mastoidectomy operation can similarly be thought of as a modified radical mastoidectomy.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Intact bridge mastoidectomy was performed in 48 ears from 1987 to 1998. To evaluate the results of intact bridge mastoidectomy, 48 cases were reviewed retrospectively.
RESULTS
Among 48 patients, 24 (50%) were chronic otitis media and 12 (25%) were cholesteatomatous chronic otitis media. The methods of tympanoplasty were as follows : 11 cases of type I tympanoplasty (23%), two cases of type II tympanoplasty(4%), 21 cases of type III tympanoplasty (44%), and 14 cases of type IV tympanoplasty (29%). Postoperative air-bone gaps were improved by 12 dB in non-cholesteatoma group, and 0 dB in cholesteatoma group. The average healing period was 13.6 weeks, with 80% being healed within a period of 4 months. Postopertative complications were as follows : one case of cholesteatoma, two cases of tympanic membrane perforation, one case of wound infection, and two cases of pocket retraction.
CONCLUSIONS
Although the hearing gain was not impressive, intact bridge mastoidectomy allowed adequate visualization for eradication of pathologic tissue, and desirable anatomic configurations for ossiculoplasty and tympanoplasty.