Original Article


Mastoidectomy indications and incidence in the indigenous population of Far North Queensland

Thomas Placanica, Aaron Griffin, Vibhuti Mahanta, Philip Jumeau

Abstract

Background: To review all mastoidectomies performed over a 10-year period in one tertiary hospital in Australia and evaluate the incidence and indications of operations in the Indigenous population.
Methods: A retrospective review combining clinical presentations, demographics and intraoperative findings. Outcomes studied were complications on presentation, ossicular/tympanic damage present at time of operation, intra-operative pathology, the extent of the disease and the surgical technique used.
Results: There were 158 mastoidectomies were performed in our institution over the 10-year period studied. Cholesteatoma (58%) was the most common indication. Extracranial complications recorded at presentation include; subperiosteal abscess, facial paralysis, labyrinthitis and significant sensory neural deafness. Intracranial complications seen include meningitis, cerebellar abscess, and encephaloceles. Canal wall down and canal wall up surgical techniques were evaluated.
Conclusions: A higher number of mastoidectomies are performed on the Indigenous population, the incidence of cholesteatoma reported is lower than expected and disease recurrence rates in canal wall down and canal wall up mastoidectomies are comparable to worldwide data.

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