Surgical management of the atelectatic ear.

Objective: The surgical management of the atelectatic ear is controversial because the natural course toward cholesteatoma development cannot be predicted, and hearing acuity remains normal until later in the disease course. Consequently, surgery is often delayed until there is a clear indication, such as hearing loss or frank cholesteatoma development, but such delay often necessitates more extensive surgery. Because earlier intervention appears to be in the best interest of the patient but is often avoided because of near normal hearing levels at this stage, the author proposes a staging system for classification and management of the atelectatic ear. Hearing results and complications in patients undergoing tympanoplasty with or without ossicular reconstruction are reported for patients with type III and IV retractions.

Study design: A retrospective study using a computerized otologic database to identify patients who meet the inclusion criteria.

Setting: A tertiary referral center.

Patients: A total of 55 patients (63 ears) aged 5 to 78 years underwent cartilage tympanoplasty with or without ossicular reconstruction.

Interventions: Elevation of the ear drum, followed by cartilage reconstruction of the tympanic membrane, with ossicular reconstruction as indicated.

Main outcome measures: Postoperative pure tone average air-bone gap for four frequencies (500, 1000, 2000, 4000 Hz) compared with preoperative levels.

Results: There was a statistically significant improvement in hearing (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: This staging system offers an effective treatment algorithm for pars tensa retractions and management of type III and IV retractions via cartilage tympanoplasty with or without ossicular reconstruction and is a proven treatment modality.