SURGERY OF THE CHRONICALLY DISCHARGING EAR

Abstract

THE PURPOSE of this presentation is to stress certain important anatomic landmarks and surgical maneuvers which have proved extremely valuable to me in developing a technic of endaural temporal bone surgery. The endaural incision is slightly changed from the original Lempert¹ technic in that the no. 1 incision (A) is placed more external in the skin of the ear canal. The no. 2 incision (B) is completed in the usual way, and the no. 3 incision (C) follows the edge of the conchal cartilage. The incision is first outlined in gentian violet before local infiltration of the area with procaine hydrochloride obscures the usual landmarks. A Bard-Parker knife with a no. 15 blade is used to make the incision. A small tragus retractor replaces the Lempert ear speculum for this procedure. The triangular piece of skin removed is very small, and the entire incision is extracartilaginous. This incision allows