A mastoidectomy is a surgical procedure that removes diseased mastoid air cells. The mastoid is the part of your skull located behind your ear. It’s filled with air cells made of bone and looks like a honey comb. The diseased cells are often the result of an ear infection that has spread into your skull. The procedure can also be used to remove an abnormal growth of the ear known as a cholesteatoma.
There are variations of mastoidectomy procedures, including:
Simple mastoidectomy: in which your surgeon opens your mastoid bone, removes the infected air cells, and drains your middle ear
Radical mastoidectomy: in which your surgeon may remove your mastoid air cells, your eardrum, most of your middle ear structures, and your ear canal. This procedure is reserved for complicated mastoid disease
Modified radical mastoidectomy: which is a less severe form of radical mastoidectomy that involves removing mastoid air cells along with some, but not all, middle ear structures
A mastoidectomy can treat complications of chronic otitis media (COM). COM is an ongoing ear infection in your middle ear. A cholesteatoma, which is a skin cyst, can be a complication from these ongoing infections. The cyst grows gradually over time and may lead to serious complications such as:
Abscess in the brain
Deafness
Dizziness or vertigo
Damage to your facial nerve that causes facial paralysis
Meningitis, or inflammation of the membranes of your brain
Labyrinthitis, or inflammation of your inner ear
Ongoing ear drainage
Your doctor usually performs a mastoidectomy using general anesthesia. This ensures that you’re asleep and unable to feel pain. For a simple mastoidectomy, your surgeon will usually:
Access your mastoid bone through a cut made behind your ear
Use a microscope and a small drillto open your mastoid bone
Use suction irrigation to keep the surgical area free of bone dust
Drill out the infected air cells
Stitch up the operative site
Cover the site with gauze to keep the wound clean and dry.
Your surgeon may also use a facial nerve monitor during surgery. This helps to limit injury to the facial nerve.
You can expect to have bandages over your ear when you wake up. There will also be stitches close to your ear. You may have a headache, discomfort, and some numbness.
After surgery, your doctor may: prescribe pain medication, give you antibiotics to treat any infection, ask you to schedule a return for wound check and removal of any bandages and stitches
Follow your doctor’s specific instructions on caring for your wound, as well when you can swim or bathe. You should avoid all strenuous activity for at least two to four weeks afterward, depending on your surgery. Also refrain from putting pressure on your ear.