Canalplasty for Chronic Intractable External Otitis and Keratosis Obturans

Patients with external otitis or keratosis obturans who have reached a state of refractory pathology after appropriate and prolonged conservative management may be considered candidates for canalplasty. The original method was described in 1966. We describe our experience with this technique and its modifications in 24 ear cases of chronic external otitis including one patient for whom the term “chronic external otitis hemorrhagica” was coined. In addition, this method was applied in three patients with keratosis obturans. Satisfactory results for healing and hearing were achieved in all patients to date.