| Abstract: | Tympanoplasty in childhood is not always the same as in adults. This applies to the indication for the operation, to the operation itself and also to the pre- and postoperative treatment. The rapidly growing and expanding juvenile cholesteatoma offers special problems, and probably has a different cause than the slow growing pearl tumour found in adults. Traumatic cholesteatomas also give the impression of growing faster in childhood. The prognosis for tympanoplasty in cases of mesotympanic chronic otitis media must not be too optimistic because the condition of the mucosa in juveniles is different to that in adults. Pre-operative treatment may take a long time and postoperative treatment may be difficult. |
