[Modified Body technique in the treatment of epithympanic cholesteatoma. Otologic group, Piacenza].

The Bondy technique is a particular radical, yet conservative, treatment where the intact tympanic-ossicular system is preserved during the operation. This technique was initially introduced by Gustave Bondy in 1910 and has been used at the authors' center since December 1983 with a few modifications. In the twelve years from December 1983 to December 1995 69 cases (66 patients) were treated with this technique: 5.6% of all chronic cholesteatomatose otitis surgically treated during that period. The following indications were applied: purely epitymapnic cholesteatoma, average transmission gap equal to or lower than 25 dB and intact bone chain. During the follow-up no signs of recurrent cholestatoma were found. The average post-operative transmission gap was greater than 25 dB in only 5 of the 54 cases with at least one year of follow-up. When used in selected cases, the modified Bondy technique can be considered an excellent option in the treatment of epitympanic cholesteatoma, making it possible to maintain the good pre-operative hearing without requiring a second operation.