Reconstruction of the external auditory canal using full-thickness rolled-up skin graft after lateral temporal bone resection for T1 and T2 external auditory canal cancer.

OBJECTIVE

To present our results of the external auditory canal (EAC) reconstruction procedure using rolled-up full-thickness skin graft with tympanoplasty after lateral temporal bone resection (LTBR) for early-stage EAC carcinoma.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

A retrospective review of 15 patients who had undergone LTBR with reconstruction of the EAC for T1 and T2 EAC cancer between 2016 and 2020.

RESULTS

Postoperative mean air-bone gap was 30.7 decibel hearing level. Although a few patients experienced chronic granulation, persistent otorrhea, and/or laterization of the tympanic membrane, most patients showed no serious complications related to the EAC reconstruction.

CONCLUSION

EAC reconstruction using a full-thickness skin graft in combination with tympanoplasty is useful for minimizing the hearing loss, maintaining the cosmetic appearance, and facilitating the observation into the ear cavity.