Does auricular lateralization occur after retroauricular approach?
İbrahim Erdim1, Ömer Erdur2, Emrah Sapmaz1
1Gaziosmanpaşa Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Kulak Burun Boğaz Hastalıkları Anabilim Dalı, Tokat, Türkiye
2Selçuk Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Kulak Burun Boğaz Hastalıkları Anabilim Dalı, Konya, Türkiye
Keywords: Mastoidectomy, protruding ear, retroauricular, tympanoplasty.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate whether auricular lateralization occurs after otologic surgeries performed with retroauricular approach.
METHODS: A total of 83 patients (35 males, 48 females; mean age 37.6±14.3 years; range 14 to 69 years) who were performed otologic surgeries with retroauricular approach were evaluated between September 2014 and January 2017. Distance between free helical rim of auricula and mastoid skin was measured from three localizations: distance A (between upper free helical point of ear and mastoid skin), distance C (between ear lobule ending point and mastoid skin), and distance B (distance between A and C). Patients who were performed inside to out mastoidectomy and tympanoplasty without meatoplasty were designated as group 1 (n=62), while patients who were performed open cavity tympanoplasty and radical mastoidectomy with meatoplasty were designated as group 2 (n=21). The three distances were measured preoperatively and at postoperative first and sixth months, and assessed by intra- and intergroup comparisons.
RESULTS: While statistically significant difference was seen in both groups at postoperative first month compared to preoperative measurements (p<0.05), no statistically significant difference was seen at postoperative sixth month (p>0.05). However, auricular asymmetry was detected in five patients (8.1%) in group 1 and three patients (14.3%) in group 2 at postoperative sixth month. In intergroup comparison; no statistically significant difference was seen between postoperative first month and preoperative values, and postoperative sixth month and preoperative values (p>0.05).
CONCLUSION: According to our study results, while significant auricular protruding was seen in early postoperative period in retroauricular approach, this issue was recovered considerably in late postoperative period. However, asymmetry persisted in 9.6% of patients. So, we think that it will be helpful to explain this kind of risk to patients who are planned retroauricular approach when taking their informed consent before surgery.