Laser-assisted tympanoplasty for preservation of the ossicular chain in cholesteatoma

We report the use of potassium titanyl phosphate laser-assisted tympanoplas ty in amputations of the malleus and incus in 2 patients with cholesteatoma medial to those ossicles that had not destroyed the ossicul ar chain conti nuity. In both cases, the laser successfully removed portions of the ossicl es to allow removal of the cholesteatoma; importantly, the laser preserved certain ossicular ligaments, thus keeping the ossicular chain continuous. P ostoperatively, both patients showed satisfactory hearing. Although the pre valence of cholesteatoma medial to the ossicles with maintained ossicular c ontinuity is limited, the laser-assisted procedure described here is useful for maintaining hearing ability in these cases. Copyright (C) 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company.