ABSTRACT
Atresia is defined as the absence of or closure of a passage of the body. This covers both congenital and acquired lesions. Tos defines acquired atresia of the external ear as 'intraluminal sequelae of either intraluminal or extraluminal processes of varying aetiology, resulting in a blind sac in the external acoustic meatus'. Atresias may be solid or membranous. The clinical diagnosis of acquired atresia is supported by the use of computed tomography (CT) scanning which gives a very detailed image of the bony and soft-tissue structure of the external ear. The principle of surgery for fibrous atresia is to remove the fibrous tissue by elevating it from the ear canal bone, the fibrous annulus and lamina propria of the tympanic membrane. In most cases access is adequate via a speculum inserted into the external ear canal, though an endaural or retroauricular approach may be utilized. Similar to fibrous atresia, membranous atresia can be approached trans-canal using an ear speculum.