Management of chronic otitis media in the only hearing ear

Objective: Chronic car surgery is difficult. The management of such a disease either with or without cholesteatoma and in an only hearing ear is particularly challenging. Consequences of disease or unintended outcomes of therapy can both result in patient lifestyle alterations of major proportion. This report offers a diagnostic and treatment plan for chronic otitis media with and without cholesteatoma in the only hearing ear. Methods. More than 10,000 charts of patients with chronic otitis media were retrospectively reviewed. Twenty-seven charts of patients with chronic otitis media in an only hearing ear who underwent surgical treatment were identified. The patients were followed for an average time of 43 months. Results. Overall, the chronic otitis media was well controlled, and there was no change in the average discrimination or hearing thresholds when comparing preoperative and postoperative results. Conclusions: Chronic otitis media with and without cholesteatoma in an only hearing ear can be treated successfully with hearing preservation. Canal wall down tympanomastoidectomy is performed in most cases. Manipulation of the ossicular chain is avoided, and cholesteatoma that lies over a potential fistula is exteriorized.