A randomized controlled trial published in the Indian Journal of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery compared Completely Endoscopic Mastoid Surgery (CEMS) to the conventional microscopic technique in 40 patients with chronic otitis media (COM) and cholesteatoma. Both approaches achieved comparable hearing improvement, but the endoscopic group demonstrated significantly lower postoperative pain (p = 0.0002), shorter hospital stays (p = 0.013), and better cosmesis and quality of life scores (p = 0.021). These findings highlight the growing dominance of endoscopic ear surgery as a minimally invasive alternative that preserves outcomes while enhancing patient experience.
For surgeons, this RCT offers critical evidence in favor of integrating endoscopic techniques into standard otologic practice. Click here to read the full trial As endoscopic visualization and instrumentation continue to…
