Key Points
  1. A mastoid cavity presents significant morbidity to the patient and burden on the clinical service.
  2. Obliteration of the mastoid cavity aims to prevent these problems and improve patients quality of life.
  3. Bioactive glass provides a safe and effective means of mastoid obliteration without extensive dissection of a soft tissue flap to fill the defect.
  4. The most common complication suffered by patients is an increased frequency of attendance in the initial healing phase as the graft covering the bioactive glass develops a blood supply and epithelises.
  5. In our experience bioactive glass can be placed onto dehiscent facial nerve and dura without complication.