What Is a Mastoidectomy?

A mastoidectomy is a surgical procedure to remove infected or diseased tissue from the mastoid bone, which is located behind the ear. It is typically performed to treat mastoiditis, an infection of the mastoid bone that can cause a variety of symptoms, including ear pain, swelling, discharge, and hearing loss.

Mastoidectomy surgery involves removing the infected or diseased tissue from the mastoid bone and creating a new space for the middle ear to drain. This can be done through a variety of techniques, including:

- Simple mastoidectomy: This involves removing the infected or diseased tissue from the mastoid bone without removing any of the surrounding bone.

- Radical mastoidectomy: This involves removing the infected or diseased tissue from the mastoid bone as well as the surrounding bone.

- Modified radical mastoidectomy: This involves removing the infected or diseased tissue from the mastoid bone as well as some of the surrounding bone, but not as much as in a radical mastoidectomy.

The type of mastoidectomy that is performed will depend on the extent of the infection or disease.

Mastoidectomy surgery is typically performed under general anesthesia. The procedure usually takes several hours, and the patient may need to stay in the hospital for a few days after surgery.