New Non-medical Treatment for Chronic Mastoid Bowl,
Ear Canal, and Middle Ear Disease with Tympanic Membrane Disease

For thousands of years Physicians and Surgeons have struggled with acute and chronic ear disease. In the not so distant past an episode of simple otitis media could have been life threatening. We have also observed from archeological digs that ancient Egyptians recognized chronic ear and mastoid disease and treated it by performing a type of mastoidectomy. Modern antibiotics have reduced the seriousness of these diseases, but the problem of chronic middle ear and mastoid disease persists in virtually every Otologist and Otolaryngologist's practice. The problem lies not in our technology, surgical procedures, or medications, but in the fact that the ear canal and mastoid cavity are relatively deep recess in the skull that are difficult to keep clean and dry. As a result these ears are a rich environment for the growth of bacteria and fungi.

The author envisioned a device to keep these chronic ears dry so that the skin of these canals and cavities could re-epithealize and form normal skin appendages. This was based on the observation that successfully treated chronic ears and cavities did exactly this, and remained disease and relatively maintenance free for years after treatment. The Sahara DryEar ear canal drying device was designed, patented, and produced.

A study was designed to assess whether the ear canal or mastoid cavity was effectively dried by the device and the efficacy of the treatment in clearing chronic disease. The absence of adverse reactions and the ease and comfort of use of the device were also evaluated. Eleven patients with chronic middle ear with tympanic membrane perforation or mastoid cavity disease where selected based on the fact that their disease had persisted for one to ten years despite repeated medical and/or surgical treatment. Four other patients where selected who wore hearing aids and experience recurrent external otitis as a result of moisture accumulation in the ear canal. Each of these patients was given a device and instructed to use it twice daily, and as needed for moisture in the ear. Each was then examined monthly for six months. Additionally, two devices were used in a general Otolaryngology practice to dry ears after irrigations to remove cerumen and prior to application of powdered antibiotics when the ears were moist from infection. No patient was lost to follow-up.

The results of the study were as follows:

•  All patients with chronic middle ear disease with TM perforation or mastoid cavity disease experienced resolution of both the moisture and purulent drainage within three months. After returning the devices at six months, all eleven patients' ears/cavities remained free of disease for a seven month period of follow up.

•  All patients who wore hearing aids noted no further difficulty wearing the aids resulting from moisture or infections, and were able to wear the aids by using the device immediately after showering and swimming.

•  The devices used in our clinic reduced the incidence of external otitis after ear canal irrigation from one to two cases monthly to two cases over a thirteen month period.

•  There were no adverse reactions to using the device such as injury to the ear canal or TM, caloric responses, electrical injuries, or exacerbation of cerumen impactions.

•  No patient or technician experienced difficulty in using the device, even in the arthritic hands of two elderly patients.

Although this study involved a small number of patients and spanned only a thirteen month period, the results suggest that chronic middle ear disease with tympanic membrane perforation, chronic mastoid bowl disease, and troublesome ear canal disease can be effectively treated by the use of this inexpensive, easy to use, ear canal drying device. Further investigation is clearly warranted.

Dr. Hamilton P. Collins II is a board certified Otolaryngologist, Head and Neck Surgeon and Facial Plastic Surgeon with twenty one years of experience in solo private practice in Hemet, California. He may be reached at DrCollins@dryear.net

Submitted for publication to the Journal of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery.