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Case Reports
. 2025 May 13;17(5):e84030.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.84030. eCollection 2025 May.

Surgical Management of a Rare Complication of Mastoidectomy: A Retroauricular Cutaneous-Mastoid Fistula

Archil Tsuladze  1 , Irine Nakhutsrishvili  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Surgical Management of a Rare Complication of Mastoidectomy: A Retroauricular Cutaneous-Mastoid Fistula

Archil Tsuladze et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

Our goal was to describe a case of a rare complication that developed as a result of multiple surgical interventions over the years due to chronic mastoiditis - specifically, a pathological connection between a retroauricular skin defect and the mastoid cavity - and its surgical management. Based on subjective and objective findings, a surgical intervention was planned, including radical cavity obliteration and closure of the cutaneous-mastoid fistula using the temporomastoid periosteum. The surgery was successfully completed, resulting in improved hearing and the elimination of the infectious focus.

Keywords: chronic mastoiditis; chronic suppurative otitis media; cutaneous-mastoid fistula; hearing loss; mastoidectomy.

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Conflict of interest statement

Human subjects: Consent for treatment and open access publication was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Retroauricular cutaneous-mastoid fistula
The preoperative image describes the pathological connection between the skin and the mastoid.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Pre- and postoperative audiometry, showing improvement in conductive hearing loss
A: Preoperative audiometry showing left-sided conductive hearing loss of 60-70 dB; B: Postoperative audiometry: one month after the surgery, a hearing evaluation was performed through audiometry, revealing an improvement in hearing by 20-30 dB.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Computed tomography of the temporal bone: partially resectioned mastoid process
A: Coronal view; B: axial view On computed tomography of the temporal bone, the following was noted: partial resection of the mastoid process, a viscous fluid accumulation dorsally in the mastoid air cells, and pneumatization of the tympanic cavity on the left side.
Figure 4
Figure 4. Image taken one month post-surgery, showing the closed cutaneous-mastoid fistula
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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