Surgical obliteration of the tympanomastoid compartment and external auditory canal.

The ideal patient for a radical mastoidectomy with total tympanomastoid cavity obliteration is one with chronic granulomatous otomastoiditis without cholesteatoma, profound sensorineural hearing loss, and a normal ear on the opposite side. A meticulous and thorough classical radical mastoidectomy is required. The resultant cavity is eliminated by filling it with pedicled flaps and/or adipose tissue taken from the abdominal wall. Suturing the skin of the anterior and posterior membranous canal walls completes the procedure. Healing is rapid and requires minimal postoperative care. The absence of a cavity eliminates the necessity of additional otologic care. Swimming, diving, and free participation in all other aquatic sports are important additional benefits. This procedure has been performed in 44 patients, 24 by author HFS and 20 by author JRC.