Musculoplasty for restoration of hearing in chronic suppurative ears.

Abstract

There are two main objectives in rehabilitating the chronic suppurative ear: the elimination of infection, and the restoration of hearing. Restoration of hearing is best achieved with conservative surgical methods which preserve the anatomical structures. Elimination of infection is best achieved with surgical methods that sacrifice anatomical structures in order to expose and remove disease. The need in chronically diseased ear surgery is to accomplish both elimination of infection, and restoration of hearing which poses a paradoxical problem. The methods of tympanoplasty during the past 15 years have made great contributions in establishing principles of middle ear reconstruction, but there is nothing in the technique which offers any assurance for the elimination of infection. It works well in dry ears and in lesser pathological states where the need to disturb the tissues is minimal. But it is still an incomplete answer in the suppurative ear, where there is established mastoid