Mastoidectomy

A mastoidectomy is a surgical procedure that removes diseased mastoid air cells. These cells sit behind your ear in a hollow space in your skull. Typically, a mastoidectomy (with or without tympanoplasty) is recommended for patients that have a cholesteatoma and/or a chronically infected ear that has failed medical management (chronic otitis media). Your doctor at Suburban Ear, Nose, and Throat is uniquely trained to perform mastoidectomy surgery.

A cholesteatoma is a benign skin cyst that grows inside the ear. Most cholesteatomas occupy the middle ear space behind the tympanic membrane (eardrum). Occasionally, cholesteatomas arise from the external ear canal, and then are referred to as canal cholesteatomas. Canal cholesteatomas can usually be managed conservatively with routine ear cleaning in the office, but rarely they will require surgical intervention. Middle ear cholesteatomas, on the other hand, almost always require surgery. They typically occur in children and adults who have chronic eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD), a problem with ventilation or “popping” the ears. When ETD is present for many years, it can lead to development of a cholesteatoma. Although most cholesteatomas are acquired, some patients are actually born with the cholesteatoma; this is called a congenital cholesteatoma.

Cholesteatomas grow very slowly, but they can cause significant damage to any structure in the ear that they come in contact with. Commonly, the cholesteatoma erodes into the tiny bones (ossicles) in the middle ear that allow for hearing. Untreated, cholesteatomas can lead to hearing loss, infection, chronic ear discharge, ear pain, dizziness, facial paralysis, or in rare cases, infection that spreads to the brain. Due to the seriousness of these complications, cholesteatomas need to be surgically removed via the operation termed mastoidectomy (with or without tympanoplasty). The goal of surgery is to remove the entire cholesteatoma and, if possible, reconstruct the hearing. Following surgery, patients are usually seen on a regular basis to clean the ear and make sure the cholesteatoma does not return.

Evaluation of a patient with suspected middle ear or mastoid disease includes a complete history and physical examination and often, a special x‐ray called a CT scan of the temporal bones (the skull bone that contains the structures of the ear). This test helps to visualize the ear anatomy and better assess the extent of ear disease.

During a mastoidectomy, a well-hidden incision is placed behind the ear. This provides exposure to the mastoid bone, which is located behind the ear. The bone is partially drilled away to remove the infected tissue or cholesteatoma cyst. Mastoidectomy is performed either as a “canal‐wall‐up” or “canal‐wall‐down” technique. The decision on which technique to use is sometimes determined at surgery and other times determined prior to surgery. Numerous factors help your doctor decide which technique is best for you.

Canal‐wall‐up procedures have the advantage of less local wound care during the initial healing period, and over the years to follow. However, canal‐wall‐up procedures have a much higher incidence of recurrent cholesteatoma, which would then require further surgery. In addition, with canal‐wall‐up surgery, it is often recommended that the patient undergo a second planned surgery to determine if there is recurrent cholesteatoma and to attempt hearing restoration. Occasionally, patients will need an unplanned “second look” operation in the future.

Canal‐wall‐down technique allows for an open cavity in which your doctor is able to better access the site of previous cholesteatoma or infection. Canal‐wall‐down procedures have a much lower chance of cholesteatoma recurrence needing further revision surgeries. However, there is significantly more office care needed over time. Even when healed well, occasional visits with an ENT physician will be needed for the remainder of the patient’s lifetime. Also, with canal‐wall‐down procedures, a meatoplasty is performed (surgery to enlarge the opening of the ear canal to visualize the mastoid cavity).

Usually, mastoidectomy surgery is done as an outpatient, but expect to take one week off from work or school to allow for recovery. The ear is usually fully healed six weeks to three months after surgery. Most often, mastoidectomy is combined with tympanoplasty (with or without ossicular reconstruction). Tympanoplasty refers to the middle ear and eardrum portion of the surgery, while the mastoidectomy describes the surgery in the mastoid cell system. Please refer to our tympanoplasty page for specific information.

The indications and risks of surgery, as well as expected outcomes, must be understood prior to proceeding with surgery. In addition, you must understand your alternatives to the surgery. Your alternative is not to have the surgery performed, and continue with medical management of your problem. This would leave you in your current condition.

General postoperative care

1. Please keep your ear dry after surgery. When your doctor allows you to shower, the ear can be closed off with a cotton ball lightly coated in Vaseline and/or you may place a small cup over your ear during shower.
2. Nose blowing: We request minimal nose blowing for three or four weeks after surgery as this may dislodge any graft reconstruction that may have been performed.
3. Exercise: We request only casual activity for the first two weeks after surgery. Thereafter, exercise is generally allowed.
4. Postoperative visits: You may be asked to return to our office one to two days after surgery and then typically seven to nine days after surgery. Over the next several months, we will ask that you return several times depending on the procedure performed.

If there are any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us at our office number (847)259‐2530.

For more information

• Mastoidectomy (U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health)
• Mastoidectomy Illustrations (U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health)
• Cholesteatoma (American Academy of Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery)
• Medical Treatment for Hearing Loss (www.MyOptumHealth.com)