Iatrogenic stenosis or atresia of external auditory canal

objective To analytically investigate the clinical data of patients with external auditory canal atresia or stenosis after surgical therapy,and to discuss its causes,characteristics and appropriate therapeutic methods.Methods Retrospective study in a tertiary referral hospital.133 ears of 131 patients with external auditory canal diseasea or middle ear diseases underwent surgical intervention between January 2007 and January 2009.The surgical technique is described in detail.10 ears of 9 patients occurred atresia or stenosis after operations.Results For 9 patients(10 ears) with atresia or stenosis,there were 4 patients(5 ears) with external auditory canal cholesteatoma,2 with benign tumor,2 with malignant tumor in external auditory canal and 1 with chronic otitis media with cholesteatoma.Bone exposure of external auditory canal and without skin transplantation during the operation were the risk factors for stenosis or atresia.All the atresia or stenosis symptoms occurred within the first 3 postoperative months.Stenosis progress could be significantly alleviated by treatment with ototopical antibiotics and steroids.Canalplasty was still a safe and effective technique in the re-atresia cases.Conclusion The most common cause of iatrogenic external auditory canal atresia or stenosis in original external or middle ear diseases is intraoperative improper manipulations.Delayed postoperativemanagementandappointmentisanothercauseofthese diseases.