One-Stage Endaural Musculotympanoplasty

Introduction Reconstructive surgery of the middle ear has been changing rapidly as a result of the numerous new techniques which have been developed to recreate a functioning middle ear and concomitantly eradicate chronic infection. In attempting to evaluate the various methods used in the eradication of mastoid infection and reconstruction of the tympanum, there has been some confusion as to which method is the most desirable for a specific ear condition. Although variation in technique is to be expected in correcting different types of temporal bone disease, it would be advantageous to amalgamate the cardinal advances in ear surgery into a simplified one-stage, single-incision operation. Wullstein's¹and Zoellner's²tympanoplasty techniques, via the posterior auricular approach, offered certain advantages in that a one-stage procedure could be performed, and simultaneously a skin graft could be procured to serve in closing the tympanic cavity. However, several notable shortcomings inherent in this