The history of the description of otosclerosis is presented in detail, beginning with Toynbee in 1857, together with the development of the surgical treatment beginning with Kessel in 1876. The prominent European and American contributors to this development are presented, with emphasis on the evolution of thinking with regard to surgical treatment as new information became available and new instruments were invented.

The frequency of post-operative cholesteatomas, epidermizations and retraction pockets in a series of 343 chronically infected ears (315 patients) without cholesteatoma at primary surgery was evaluated. The ears were operated on radically, exclusively by the Palva method, with removal of the bridge in 248 ears and preservation of it in 95 ears. Musculo-periosteal obliteration and seclusion of the aditus were performed in every case with a Palva flap and with a temporalis muscle-fascia graft. The primary operations took place over the period 1964–1972, and all the ears without cholesteatoma at primary surgery were included; they were followed up annually. The evaluation of this material was carried out in 1976–1979 and the follow-up time was on an average of 8.5 years (5–15 years).

Cholesteatoma was found in six (6/343; 1.7 per cent), epidermization of the tympanum in four (4/343; 1.2 per cent), and retraction pockets without cholesteatoma in six (6/343; 1.7 per cent) of the ears. Preservation or removal of the bridge at operation did not cause any significant difference in the frequency of the post-operative complications mentioned (p > 0 05). Most of the complications were discovered after the first postoperative year.

The case history is presented of a patient with a massive chondrosarcoma arising from the posterior part of the nasal septum, extending into the base of the skull to involve the right middle cranial fossa. Removal of the main bulk of the tumour was accomplished by means of a cranio-facial resection, and it is hoped that useful palliation has thus been achieved.

The literature relating to this rare tumour is reviewed: only seven cases have been previously described in which the tumour is believed to have arisen from the nasal septum. It is generally accepted that chondrosarcomas are radio-insensitive, and that surgical excision is the only effective form of treatment.