The surgical management of the pars tensa retraction pocket in the child -results following simple excision and ventilation tube insertion

Retraction pockets of the pars tensa formed due to poor mesotympanic ventil ation can result in chronic infection, ossicular damage and even acquired c holesteatoma. A diversity in opinion exists as to the best surgical treatme nt of an established retraction pocket. This paper presents a consecutive p rospective series of 39 ears managed over the last 4 years by means of simp le excision and insertion of a middle ear ventilation tube. The retraction pockets were graded according to Sade's 1979 classification. There were 23 grade II and sixteen grade III retractions. All 39 pockets were successfull y excised. Thirty-four of the perforations healed, with the remaining five failing to heal at the time of analysis. In 13 cases the pockets recurred, but in five of these cases the recurrence is minimal and has required no fu rther surgical intervention. Of the eight remaining significant recurrences , four have undergone a repeat procedure with no further recurrence in thre e cases. Following initial surgery, 67% of the ears operated upon had eithe r minimal or no recurrence. Following further surgery this figure increased to 75%. The air conduction threshold improved by an average of thirteen de cibels in those ears that healed with no recurrence. (C) 1999 Elsevier Scie nce Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.