A Case of Reconstruction of Large Defect in Posterior Wall of Bony External Auditory Canal Using Cavum Conchal Cartilage

Abstract

External auditory canal (EAC) wall defect may occur due to cholesteatoma, and surgeries for chronic ear diseases, trauma, neoplasm or idiopathic. Conservative treatment is available if the severity of the symptom is mild or asymptomatic. However, these defects require repairment not only to attain relief from intermittent otologic symptoms but also to prevent retraction pockets and sequential cholesteatoma. There have been no reported cases of reconstruction of EAC wall defect by cartilage with perichondrium and groove of wall defect by drilling. We manipulated the conchal cartilage so that it could effectively provide robust reconstruction of the canal wall defect. Herein we report a case of EAC reconstruction with mastoidectomy with no further complications.