Mastoidectomy
What is Mastoidectomy?
Mastoidectomy is a surgical procedure to remove infected or diseased mastoid air cells, a part of the temporal bone behind the ear, typically to treat chronic ear infections, cholesteatoma, or related complications. It aims to eradicate infection and prevent further damage to the ear or surrounding structures. In India, mastoidectomy is performed in ENT departments at hospitals like Apollo, Fortis, Medanta, and AIIMS, often at affordable costs. Understanding the procedure, costs, recovery, risks, and FAQs is essential for patients.
Why do you need Mastoidectomy?
Mastoidectomy is indicated for:
- Cholesteatoma:
- Abnormal skin growth in the middle ear/mastoid, causing erosion of bone and chronic infection.
- Symptoms: Persistent ear discharge, hearing loss, or dizziness.
- Chronic ear infections:
- Recurrent or persistent otitis media with mastoiditis (infection spreading to mastoid bone).
- Symptoms: Ear pain, discharge, fever, or swelling behind the ear.
- Complications:
- Mastoid abscess, meningitis, facial nerve paralysis, or brain abscess (rare but serious).
- Types:
- Canal wall up (CWU): Preserves the ear canal wall; less invasive.
- Canal wall down (CWD): Removes the ear canal wall; used for extensive disease, creates an open cavity.
- Radical/Modified radical: Extensive removal, often for severe cholesteatoma (less common today).
The procedure aims to remove diseased tissue, eradicate infection, and prevent complications while preserving hearing when possible, though hearing outcomes vary based on disease extent.
Why Do Mastoidectomy Costs Vary in India?
Costs range from ₹50,000 to ₹1.5 lakh :
- Procedure Type: CWU (₹50,000–₹80,000); CWD or with ossiculoplasty (₹80,000–₹1.5 lakh).
- Hospital/Location: Higher in metro cities (Apollo, Fortis: ₹80,000–₹1.5 lakh); lower in government hospitals (AIIMS: ₹20,000–₹40,000, often subsidized under Ayushman Bharat).
- Surgeon’s Expertise: Experienced ENT surgeons charge more.
- Additional Costs: Anesthesia (₹5,000–₹15,000), hospital stay (₹5,000–₹10,000/day), ear drops (₹500–₹1,000), hearing aids (if needed: ₹20,000–₹50,000).
- Insurance: Covered for medical necessity (e.g., cholesteatoma, infection); confirm with your provider.
Mastoidectomy Procedure
- Before Surgery Evaluation:
- Diagnosis:
- Otoscopy: Visualizes ear canal and eardrum (e.g., retraction, cholesteatoma).
- CT scan: Assesses mastoid bone, extent of disease, and complications (e.g., bone erosion).
- Audiometry: Evaluates hearing loss (conductive or sensorineural).
- Blood tests: Blood sugar, clotting profile, infection markers (e.g., CRP).
- Medications: Stop blood thinners (e.g., aspirin) 5–7 days prior if safe.
- Consent: Risks, including hearing loss, are explained.
- Diagnosis:
- Surgical Techniques:
- Mastoidectomy:
- Performed under general anesthesia, lasting 1–3 hours.
- Incision: Post-auricular (behind the ear, 4–6 cm).
- Bone removal:
- Mastoid air cells drilled out using a surgical drill.
- CWU: Preserves the ear canal wall; removes disease while maintaining anatomy.
- CWD: Removes the canal wall, creating an open cavity for better disease control (used for extensive cholesteatoma).
- Middle ear: Diseased tissue (e.g., cholesteatoma) removed; ossicles (hearing bones) may be reconstructed (ossiculoplasty) if damaged.
- Closure: Incision closed with sutures; ear canal packed with dissolvable material.
- Intraoperative Tools:
- Microscope: Visualizes middle ear and mastoid.
- Drill: Removes mastoid bone.
- Microinstruments: Excises cholesteatoma or infected tissue.
- Mastoidectomy:
- After Surgery:
- Hospital stay: 1–3 days.
- Care: Keep ear dry; antibiotic ear drops for 1–2 weeks.
- Pain management: Mild to moderate pain for 3–5 days; managed with acetaminophen.
- Instructions: Avoid water in ear (e.g., no swimming) for 6 weeks; no heavy lifting for 2–3 weeks.
Recovery After Mastoidectomy
- Hospital Stay: 1–3 days.
- Post-Surgery Care:
- Pain/Swelling: Mild to moderate pain behind the ear for 3–5 days; swelling resolves in 1–2 weeks.
- Ear care: Keep dry; antibiotic drops for 1–2 weeks; avoid ear pressure (e.g., blowing nose hard) for 4 weeks.
- Hearing: May initially worsen (due to packing/swelling); improves in 4–6 weeks; permanent hearing loss possible if ossicles damaged.
- Activity: Rest for 3–5 days; avoid heavy lifting or sports for 4–6 weeks.
- CWD cavity (if applicable): Lifelong cleaning (every 6–12 months) to prevent debris buildup.
- Follow-Up:
- Visits at 1 week (remove packing/sutures), 1 month, and 3 months.
- Audiometry: At 1–3 months to assess hearing.
- CT (if needed): At 3–6 months to check for recurrence (cholesteatoma).
Most resume normal activities in 1–2 weeks; full recovery takes 4–6 weeks. Success rate: 85–90% achieve infection control and disease removal; hearing preservation varies (50–70% maintain or improve hearing).
Risks and Complications
- Surgical Risks:
- Infection (2–5%): Wound or ear infection; treated with antibiotics.
- Bleeding (1–3%): Hematoma behind ear; may need drainage.
- Facial nerve injury (1–2%): Temporary or permanent facial weakness; rare with experienced surgeons.
- Post-Surgery:
- Hearing loss (5–10%): If ossicles or cochlea damaged; may need hearing aids.
- Dizziness (2–5%): Temporary (inner ear irritation); resolves in 1–2 weeks.
- Recurrence (5–15%): Cholesteatoma may return; needs regular monitoring or revision surgery.
- Tinnitus (2–5%): Ringing in ear; often temporary, may persist.
- Long-Term:
- CWD cavity issues (5–10%): Debris buildup or discharge; needs periodic cleaning.
- Taste disturbance (1–2%): Due to chorda tympani nerve injury; usually resolves in 3–6 months.
Report fever, severe pain, facial weakness, dizziness, or persistent discharge promptly.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What causes the need for a mastoidectomy?
Cholesteatoma, chronic ear infections, or mastoiditis; often due to untreated or recurrent otitis media.
Can I avoid mastoidectomy?
Yes, if mild: Antibiotics, ear drops; surgery is for persistent infection, cholesteatoma, or complications.
Is mastoidectomy painful?
Mild to moderate pain for 3–5 days, managed with medication; discomfort reduces in 1–2 weeks.
How soon can I resume activities?
Normal activities: 1–2 weeks; full recovery: 4–6 weeks; avoid water in ear for 6 weeks.
Is mastoidectomy covered by insurance in India?
Yes, for medical necessity; confirm with your provider.
Signs of complications?
Fever, severe pain, facial weakness, dizziness, or persistent discharge.
Will my hearing improve after mastoidectomy?
50–70% maintain or improve hearing; severe cases may result in hearing loss (may need hearing aids).
Lifestyle changes post-surgery?
Keep ear dry, avoid ear pressure, periodic cavity cleaning (CWD), and attend follow-ups for recurrence checks.
Conclusion
Mastoidectomy is an effective procedure to treat chronic ear infections or cholesteatoma, preventing serious complications with a high success rate. India’s top hospitals (Apollo, Fortis, AIIMS) provide affordable care, often covered by insurance. Understanding the procedure, costs, recovery, risks, and FAQs helps patients approach surgery confidently. Consult an ENT surgeon for personalized guidance.
Looking for Best Hospitals for Mastoidectomy
Note: we are not promoting any hospitals
we are not promoting any hospitals we sourced all the details from google and hospitals website, please verify and start with your surgery here we go the list includes government, budget and superspeciality hospitals accreditation bodies are the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) and the Joint Commission International (JCI)
- click on your city and schedule your surgery now done in good hands.
| City | Minimum Price (₹) | Maximum Price (₹) |
|---|---|---|
Agra |
40,000 |
1,30,000 |
Ahmedabad |
50,000 |
1,50,000 |
Ajmer |
40,000 |
1,30,000 |
Aligarh |
40,000 |
1,30,000 |
Allahabad |
40,000 |
1,30,000 |
Amritsar |
45,000 |
1,40,000 |
Aurangabad |
45,000 |
1,40,000 |
Bangalore |
50,000 |
1,50,000 |
Bareilly |
40,000 |
1,30,000 |
Belgaum |
45,000 |
1,40,000 |
Bhopal |
45,000 |
1,40,000 |
Bhubaneswar |
45,000 |
1,40,000 |
Bikaner |
40,000 |
1,30,000 |
Chandigarh |
50,000 |
1,50,000 |
Chennai |
50,000 |
1,50,000 |
Coimbatore |
50,000 |
1,50,000 |
Dehradun |
45,000 |
1,40,000 |
Delhi |
50,000 |
1,50,000 |
Dhanbad |
40,000 |
1,30,000 |
Durgapur |
40,000 |
1,30,000 |
Faridabad |
50,000 |
1,50,000 |
Ghaziabad |
50,000 |
1,50,000 |
Gorakhpur |
40,000 |
1,30,000 |
Guntur |
45,000 |
1,40,000 |
Gurgaon |
50,000 |
1,50,000 |
Guwahati |
45,000 |
1,40,000 |
Gwalior |
40,000 |
1,30,000 |
Hyderabad |
50,000 |
1,50,000 |
Indore |
45,000 |
1,40,000 |
Jabalpur |
40,000 |
1,30,000 |
Jaipur |
50,000 |
1,50,000 |
Jalandhar |
45,000 |
1,40,000 |
Jamshedpur |
45,000 |
1,40,000 |
Jodhpur |
40,000 |
1,30,000 |
Kanpur |
40,000 |
1,30,000 |
Kochi |
50,000 |
1,50,000 |
Kolkata |
50,000 |
1,50,000 |
Kollam |
45,000 |
1,40,000 |
Lucknow |
45,000 |
1,40,000 |
Ludhiana |
50,000 |
1,50,000 |
Madurai |
45,000 |
1,40,000 |
Mangalore |
45,000 |
1,40,000 |
Meerut |
40,000 |
1,30,000 |
Moradabad |
40,000 |
1,30,000 |
Mumbai |
50,000 |
1,50,000 |
Mysore |
50,000 |
1,50,000 |
Nagpur |
45,000 |
1,40,000 |
Nashik |
45,000 |
1,40,000 |
Navi Mumbai |
50,000 |
1,50,000 |
Noida |
50,000 |
1,50,000 |
Patna |
40,000 |
1,30,000 |
Pune |
50,000 |
1,50,000 |
Raipur |
45,000 |
1,40,000 |
Rajkot |
45,000 |
1,40,000 |
Ranchi |
40,000 |
1,30,000 |
Surat |
50,000 |
1,50,000 |
Thane |
50,000 |
1,50,000 |
Vadodara |
45,000 |
1,40,000 |
Varanasi |
40,000 |
1,30,000 |
Visakhapatnam |
45,000 |
1,40,000 |
Disclaimer
This information is sourced from open platforms and is for general awareness only. Costs may vary based on individual cases. Please consult a qualified doctor for medical advice and explore options within your budget before deciding on the procedure.