The postoperative healing process of the exposed dura mater in a case with a petrous bone cholesteatoma

Abstract

The management of postoperative defects in petrous bone cholesteatomas should be considered regardingthe anatomical characteristics, but the lesion that are repaired by surgery should be appropriately taken carefor postoperative follow-up. We experienced a case with a petrous bone cholesteatoma where the matrix, whichseverely adhered to the dura mater, was removed using the middle cranial fossa approach. After surgery, postoperativechanges in the exposed dura mater were observed. The epithelial layer gradually covered theexposed dura mater and the surface of the exposed layer became smooth by three and half months after theoperation. Although an obliteration method using fatty tissue may be the procedure of first choice for themanagement of postoperative defects in petrous bone cholesteatomas, an open method combined with the middlecranial fossa approach, which preserves the residual tegmen tympani, may also be appropriate as alternativechoice.