Which procedure involves the complete removal of the mastoid and ossicular chain?

The procedure that involves the complete removal of the mastoid and ossicular chain is a radical mastoidectomy. This surgical intervention is typically performed to treat chronic ear infections or other serious ear conditions when conservative treatments have failed. During a radical mastoidectomy, not only is the mastoid bone removed, but the entire ossicular chain—the small bones in the middle ear responsible for transmitting sound—may also be taken out. This procedure aims to eliminate disease from the mastoid cavity and improve the overall health of the ear, although it may result in some degree of hearing loss due to the removal of key structures.

Other procedures mentioned, such as a standard mastoidectomy, typically involve only partial removal of the mastoid and may preserve some portions of the ossicular chain. A stapedectomy specifically targets the stapes bone to improve hearing in cases of otosclerosis but does not concern mastoid removal. Fenestration procedures are related to creating new openings in the ear structure rather than removing existing ones. Understanding these distinctions clarifies why the radical mastoidectomy is the most comprehensive and specific choice for the complete removal of both the mastoid and the ossicular chain.