Mastoid Surgeries

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

You can expect some hearing loss from a radical and modified radical mastoidectomy.

This surgery isn’t as common as it used to be. Antibiotics usually treat infections, but surgery is an option if antibiotics fail.

How is a mastoidectomy performed?

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 drill to 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.