Mastoid obliteration with postconchal soft tissue and postauricular pericranial flap.

OBJECTIVE: To report the technique and the result of mastoid obliteration with postconchal soft tissue and postauricular pericranial flap. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Retrospective chart reviews were performed in the patients who underwent mastoid obliteration after canal wall-down mastoidectomy by the first author in the Department of Otolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University between January 2004 and January 2008. RESULTS: Fifteen patients were included in the present series. All patients had final round dry cavities within six to eight weeks except one who had wet discharging cavity from accumulated keratin because of total flap atrophy. Some atrophic change at the distal part of the flap was found in five cases (33%) resulting in small pockets at attic and aditus area after a 6-month follow-up period. CONCLUSION: Postconchal soft tissue and postauricular pericranial flap were reliable for mastoid obliteration. The new cavity was finally round, dry, and healthy. It could be simply accessed, cleaned, and examined for recurrent disease during the follow-up period. Some shrinkage of the flap could be expected at the distal part after the 6-month follow-up period.