This study was carried on sixty eight patients (seventy eight ears), suf-fering from tempanic membrane atelectasis (stage Ul & stage IV). They subjected to surgical treatment, either canalplasty with T-tube or cartil-age-tympanoplasty.
After 15 months follow-up we studied the effectiveness of each treat¬ment modality regarding the two rationales of surgery for atelectatic ears Le. prevention of cholesteatoma transformation and closure of the air/ bone gap. Both types of surgical modalities had successful results. Canal¬plasty is easier and less invasive whereas tympanoplasty needs experi¬enced hands in this difficult problem For atelectatic ears, whether gener¬alized or localized type, we recommended canal plasty with T-tube for stage III and cartilage- tympanoplasty for stage IV