Abstract
BACKGROUND: Endoscopic ear surgery (EES) is increasingly used internationally instead of microscopic ear surgery (MES), but has not yet become established as a routine procedure everywhere in Germany. OBJECTIVE: The incision-suture time and practicability of EES in the setting of a German clinic were investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a retrospective study, 60 consecutive MES patients from 2015 were compared with 60 consecutive EES patients from 2018. Hearing results, tympanic membrane findings after 3 weeks, and incision-suture times were compared. RESULTS: In EES, access was mostly transmeatal and bone of the anterior auditory canal wall had to be removed less often than in MES. There was no statistically significant difference in surgery times between the two groups. Perforation closure was achieved in 57/60 and 59/60 ears in the MES and EES groups, respectively. Hearing was improved in both groups. There was no statistical difference in hearing improvement between the two groups. CONCLUSION: EES is a time efficient and minimally invasive method which represents a viable alternative to MES with comparable results.