Congenital Preauricular Communicating Fistulas: Diagnosis, Complications and Treatment

Abstract

Two operated cases are reported. The hereditary nature of this rare anomaly was obvious in one of the patients. An explanation is given for the occurrence of a postoperative facial paresis in one of the cases. A complete removal of the fistulas in combination with a conservative radical operation, viz. tympano-plastic for the concomitant chronic otitis, seems imperative for a successful therapeutic result. To obtain information of the entire course of such fistulas, it is considered necessary to perform a fistulography prior to operation. Postoperative complications may thereby be avoided. Ordinary roentgenological examination combined with tomography may prove valuable in detecting various anomalies of the temporal bone.