Musculoplasty for mastoid cavity obliteration in the capucine monkey.

In a series of musculoplasty in 12 ears in the capucine monkey the mastoid cavity was successfully obliterated in the early follow-up months, but showed no obliteration at one year. A control using a bovine collagen preparation showed similar results. Musculoplasty appears to carry the dual risk of burying residual cholesteatomatous disease by virtue of atrophy and shrinkage of the muscle flap, and reformation of the mastoid cavity.