[Petromastoid clearance using plastic surgery in the surveillance of large cavities. Re-suture of the ear canal (author's transl)].

The lesions met with in chronic otitis media and especially in cholesteatoma, can be extremely widespread and, after petromastoid clearance there is a large resulting cavity which is impossible to survey by the usual route of the ear canal. A plastic surgical technique on the ear canal, is described which allows an easy surveillance without esthetic damage. It consists of a resection of a part of the cartilage of the ear canal with conservation of the skin of the inner and outer ear canal. This skin is used to re-suture the piece of cartilage which has been sectioned.