Antibiotics in mastoid and epitympanic obliteration with S53P4 bioactive glass: A retrospective study

OBJECTIVE: The role of antibiotics in ear surgery is still controversial. The aim of this study was to assess their need in cholesteatoma surgery when performing obliteration with S53P4 bioactive glass, a biocompatible material with antibacterial properties. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study was conducted in a tertiary referral center between January 2017 and May 2019. Sixty‐nine consecutive patients, who underwent surgery for cholesteatoma removal and/or rehabilitation of canal‐wall‐down mastoidectomy with mastoid and epitympanic obliteration using S53P4 granules were included. Before 2019, antibiotics were routinely used (group “w/AB”). Patients received intravenous antibiotics during surgery, oral treatment was continued for 7 days and topical antibiotics for 1 month. After 2019, no antibiotics were administered (group “w/oAB”). The primary outcome was the occurrence of early surgical site infection. Secondary outcomes were late infection, anatomic and functional results at 3 and 12 months. RESULTS: Twenty‐three patients were included in group “w/oAB” and 46 in group “w/AB”, with no significant differences in demographics, medical history or follow‐up. Five ears (22%) in group “w/oAB” developed an early infection compared with 2 (4%) in group “w/AB” (p = .03). The relative risk was 6.11, 95CI%[1.09;31.96]. Infections were successfully treated with antibiotics, and no patient underwent surgical removal of the granules. No late infections or complications were observed. There was no difference in graft failure or air‐bone gap closure at 1 year. CONCLUSION: Peri‐/post‐operative antibiotics prevent early infection in obliteration surgery with S53P4 granules. Infections can be treated medically without complications or require removal of the implanted material. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.