Ear surgery and mastoid air cell system.

Opinion differ whether simple myringoplasty should be combined with mastoidectomy, which is claimed to provide a large air reservoir for the middle ear. Data are reported on 61 ears, 55 of which had reasonably normal tympanic mucosa but distinct chronic mastoid or epitympanic ear disease. Obliteration of the cavity was performed, combined with tympanoplasty, and the patients were followed up for an average of three years. Normal aeration of the middle ear was seen in all cases with normal middle ear mucosa regardless of whether the posterior canal wall was saved or reconstructed in connection with obliteration. It is concluded that there is no reason for mastoidectomies in small mastoid cell systems in simple myringoplasties.