Effect of a large-sized silicone sheet upon recovery of mastoid aeration after mastoidectomy.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of our large-sized silicone sheet upon postoperative recovery of mastoid aeration in ears after surgery including mastoidectomy and soft-wall reconstruction (SWR). STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Retrospective chart review in a tertiary care center. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Recovery of mastoid aeration was assessed by CT 4 to 12 months after surgery on 72 ears (69 patients), in which the silicone sheet covering from the eustachian tube (ET) to the mastoid was placed after SWR procedure with mastoidectomy were done for their chronic otitis media. Results were compared with those with a small silicone sheet. RESULTS: Recovery of mastoid aeration was significantly better in the large-silicone-sheet group than in the small-silicone-sheet group (chi(2) value = 11.7146, P = 0.0006). CONCLUSION: This preliminary study suggested that our large-sized silicone sheet may be effective for postoperative recovery of mastoid aeration even in ears operated with SWR procedure.