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In the surgical correction of a stenosis of the osseous portion of the external auditory canal, it is undesirable to open into the mastoid cells because of the possibility of infection entering the cells during the later postoperative period. The surgical procedure used in the case to be reported illustrates a method of enlarging the external auditory canal without entering the mastoid cells or endangering the facial nerve deep in the posterorinferior aspect of the canal. It is readily possible to enlarge the canal by removing part of the bony meatus anteroinferiorly, thinning the tympanic plate anteriorly and removing the bone anterosuperiorly to the suture line (figure). If an attempt is made to enlarge the canal deep posteroinferiorly, there is danger of injuring the facial nerve in those occasional instances in which the facial canal lies more superficial than usual.
REPORT OF CASE
A woman aged 47 was first seen