An unusual cause of recurrence of cholesteatoma in a child

Abstract

Predicting the extent of cholesteatoma preoperatively in pediatric patients is a daunting task for the operating surgeons. Several times the operating surgeons come across unexpected findings that define the course of surgery inspite of appropriate preoperative workup. Bone wax is usually made of bee wax admixed and which is made pliable with paraffin or petroleum jelly. It is commonly used to achieve hemostasis during the course of ear surgeries in unexpected bleeding. In this case, we report a rare event in revision mastoid surgery where a large chunk of bone wax that was used in the previous surgery by another surgeon that had migrated into the external auditory canal and was a constant source of pain and discharge in the ear. Diagnostic difficulties and management of the same have been discussed.