Abstract:Objective To investigate the clinical effect of endoscopic approach with eversion external auditory canal flap and microscopic mastoid approach for the treatment of recurrent middle ear cholesteatoma with ear canal stenosis.Methods Clinical data of 60 patients (60 ears) with recurrent middle ear cholesteatoma with ear canal stenosis who underwent surgery at the Northern Jiangsu People’s Hospital Affiliated to Yangzhou University from June 2021 to January 2024 were retrospectively studied. Of them, 29 cases underwent surgery via endoscopic approach with eversion external auditory canal flap (endoscopic group) and 31 underwent microscopic mastoid surgery (microscopic group). The operation time, postoperative pain, complications and recurrence rate in both groups were evaluated and compared.Results There were no significant differences in demographics, disease characteristics, complications, and recurrence rate between the two groups (P>0.05). The differences in operation time and visual analogue scale scores of postoperative pain between the two groups were statistically significant (P<0.05), and the endoscopic group took less time, experienced less pain and had more advantages.Conclusions Endoscopic surgery with eversion external ear canal flap is an effective surgical method for the treatment of recurrent middle ear cholesteatoma with ear canal stenosis. Performed by an experienced surgeon, the efficacy of endoscopic approach is similar to that of endoscopic mastoid approach, with less operation time and less postoperative pain.