This is a condition where the infection process starts from the drum mainly and starts to destroy the mastoid bone slowly. The symptoms are foul smelling scanty purulent discharge , Bleeding, Vertigo, Neurological symptoms in case of neurological complications. The disease as such is dangerous because it can destroy bone and infection can reach to brain , Labyrinth, Cochlea and can even come outside. The investigations includes Audiometry, CT Scan of the temporal bones and relevant tests before surgery. The treatment is surgery (Mastoidectomy) as soon as possible.

What is Mastoidectomy and what is the protocol?
Mastoidectomy is a surgery for the unsafe disease of the ear where the mastoid bone is opened and disease is removed completely from the bone which has got affected. The Mastoid bone is converted into a large cavity which drains out normally in the slightly widened ear canal. The deafness is repaired as per the condition inside the ear either at the same sitting or spaced out after 6 months. The surgery is done under general anesthesia and Patient needs to stay in the hospital for 2-3days . The surgery lasts for about 3 hours and the healing takes about 6 weeks.

What are the complications ?
The complications of the surgery are recurrence of the disease, discharging cavity, Persistence of deafness.

Otosclerosis:
This is a condition where a patient mostly in early middle age starts gradually progressive hearing loss in both ear . The symptoms besides deafness are tinnitus, mild vertigo , better hearing in noisy atmosphere. The cause of this problem is gradual fixation of the bone of hearing named as stapes which normally is mobile and vibrates with sound . So the sound is not conducted to the hearing organ leading to deafness. There is a strong family history of similar problem in such patients.

What is the treatment?
The treatment is surgery (Stapedotomy) of the Satpes where a Teflon / titanium piston is inserted after making a hole in the stapes footplate and the piston starts vibrating instead of the bone thus conveying the sound to the inner ear. This is a very sensitive surgery and patient feels improvement on table immediately. The surgery is done under local anesthesia and patient is asked to stay in rest for 1 week. The patient is advised against air travel or strenuous exercise for 4 weeks. The patient may feel mild vertigo for a few days for which medicine is given.

What are complications? The complications are Increased deafness, vertigo, recurrence of deafness after sometime . However the incidence is low in our series. Our team of experts are fully trained and experienced in the all types of microsurgery of ear with outstanding results. The surgery is done with Carl Zeiss Microscope and instruments of the highest standard.Besides the above mentioned procedures , our doctors also routinely perform the following procedures :
* Radical mastoidectomy with mastoid obliteration for Complicated CSOM
* Subtotal petrosectomy for extensive cholesteatoma
* Facial Nerve decompression and re-anastamosis for facial paralysis
* Atresioplasty for Congenital Aural atresia along with pinnaplasty which is done by our plastic surgery colleagues.
* Surgery for ear tumors.