TREATMENT OF CHRONIC POSTOPERATIVE OTORRHEA WITH CULTURED KERATINOCYTE SHEETS

Cultured allogeneic ear keratinocyte sheets were used to treat 26 ears presenting with long-standing (average 37 months) chronic otorrhea, r esistant to regular treatment, long after surgery for atresia (n = 8), cholesteatoma (n = 10), and chronic otitis media (n = 8). Complete ep ithelial healing and cessation of otorrhea were obtained in 18 cases ( 69%), following an average of 2.2 weekly applications. Temporary epith elial healing lasting at least 3 months was observed in 3 patients (12 %) subsequently needing repeated applications. Lack of complete epithe lialization was documented in 5 cases (19%). In 3 of those 5 cases, a reason could be determined. The authors speculate that the alloculture d keratinocytes are able to promote migration and proliferation of res ident cells at the wound edges, despite their short survival time, by release of keratinocyte-stimulating factors.