Preliminary experience with beta-tricalcium phosphate for use in mastoid cavity obliteration after mastoidectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the efficacy and safety of mastoid cavity obliteration using highly purified beta-tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP) after mastoidectomy in middle ear surgery. PATIENTS: Thirteen patients with cholesteatoma invading the mastoid cavity or showing severe pathologic changes in the mastoid cavity. INTERVENTION: Twelve patients underwent mastoid obliteration with highly purified beta-TCP during the first- and/or second-stage operation of a 2-stage canal-up operation: 5 patients during the first and second stages, and 7 patients during the second stage only. One patient with cholesteatoma underwent mastoid obliteration with highly purified beta-TCP during a 1-stage canal-up operation. In total, beta-TCP was applied in 18 ear operations. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: All patients underwent multislice computed tomography (CT) before and after surgery to assess the condition of the middle ear. The amount of residual beta-TCP granules in the mastoid cavity was assessed using the following granular shadow grading scale: Grade 0, no granular shadow in the mastoid cavity; Grade 1, residual granular shadows in part of the mastoid cavity; and Grade 2, granular shadows in most of the mastoid cavity. To assess any harmful effect of beta-TCP implanted in the mastoid cavity, continuous postoperative discharge and delayed wound healing were recorded. In addition, the bone conduction threshold was assessed using pure-tone audiometry, and the patients were asked whether they experienced vertigo or dizziness during the postoperative follow-up. RESULTS: All the patients who underwent multislice CT less than 11.4 months after mastoid cavity obliteration with beta-TCP were Grade 2 on the granular shadow grading scale, whereas all those who underwent multislice CT more than 53.8 months after mastoid obliteration were Grade 0. No patient had continuous postoperative discharge, delayed wound healing, or extrusion of beta-TCP granules. No patient showed deterioration of the bone conduction threshold more than 10 dB after mastoid cavity obliteration with highly purified beta-TCP or complained of postoperative vertigo or dizziness. CONCLUSION: Highly purified beta-TCP may be safe and reliable for mastoid obliteration. Highly purified beta-TCP may also be useful in other surgical procedures, including posterior wall reconstruction of the external auditory canal and scutum plasty.