Published online by Cambridge University Press: 29 June 2007
The traditional meatoplasty operations performed for chronic otitis externa, which has entered the ‘fibrotic’ phase, are often unsatisfactory because the results in terms of canal patency, hearing gain and patient satisfaction are variable. Although the use of laser in chronic ear surgery is well recognized, it has not been previously reported as a meatoplasty technique. Ten KTP laser meatoplasty operations were performed on eight patients with chronic otitis externa. This pilot study shows the technique to be effective, fast and with a high patient satisfaction rate in the short-term (mean follow-up period 9.3 months). The average increase in hearing thresholds was 24 dB HL. Significant patient benefit was obtained in at least six out of eight patients using the Belfast rule of thumb. The technique has many advantages over the traditional meatoplasty operations but the long-term results require evaluation.
Presented at the Section of Otology meeting of the Royal Society of Medicine, London, March 1997, and at the Annual Meeting of the British Medical Laser Association, Jersey, June 1997.