Pinna stay suture in two handed endoscopic ear surgery: Our experience

Transcanal endoscopic ear surgery provides a minimally invasive approach to the middle ear. We operate exclusively by the two handed technique of endoscopic ear surgery with Endoscope holders. We have incorporated the technique of stay suture for retraction of external ear canal into our practice of transcanal two handed endoscopic ear surgery after observing this technique by Prof Muaaz Tarabichi at the First International Congress on Endoscopic ear surgery Dubai, April 2015 for the single handed endoscopic ear surgery. Aim To report our experience of the stay suture in transcanal two handed endoscopic ear surgery and highlight its advantages. Design Prospective non randomized clinical study. Methods and materials A total of 354 two handed transcanal endoscopic ear surgeries (202 endoscopic cartilage tympanoplasties and 152 endoscopic attic cholesteatoma surgeries) with endoscope holders operated from May 2015 to September 2017 with the stay suture were included in the study. Results The ear canal and the tympanic membrane visualisation, instrument manipulation were better with the stay suture technique of pinna retraction. Conclusion The study reports the successful application and use of the pinna stay suture. It is a good option during two handed technique in Endoscopic Ear Surgery for pinna retraction. Level of evidence: Level 4.