Final answer:
Intact canal wall surgery is a surgical procedure to repair the middle ear canal while preserving the ear canal's structural integrity. It often addresses issues like ear infections and cholesteatoma, aiming to maintain hearing function.
Step-by-step explanation:
Intact Canal Wall Surgery
Intact canal wall surgery is a surgical procedure that pertains to the middle ear canal. This type of surgery is typically performed to address issues such as chronic ear infections, cholesteatoma, or other middle ear pathologies. During the procedure, the wall of the ear canal is preserved to maintain the structure and function of the ear while enabling the surgeon to access the middle ear for treatment.
The middle ear contains important structures such as the ossicles, which include the malleus (hammer), incus (anvil), and stapes (stirrup), which are crucial for the process of hearing. Sound waves that enter through the outer ear travel down the ear canal, vibrate the tympanic membrane (eardrum), and are then transmitted through these ossicles to the cochlea in the inner ear. Intact canal wall surgery aims to restore or preserve the hearing mechanism while treating the problem in the middle ear without altering the external auditory canal.