HealthPartners brings endoscopic ear surgery to Minnesota

Dr. Manuela Fina is one of about 200 doctors performing the surgeries worldwide

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Repairing a perforated eardrum isn’t new, but using a much less-invasive approach is. Manuela Fina, MD, is one of about 200 doctors in the world who are performing endoscopic ear surgeries, and she is the only doctor in Minnesota to use this innovative technique as her primary approach to ear surgery.

By holding instruments in one hand and a high-definition endoscopic camera in the other, Dr. Fina is able to treat patients with a perforated eardrum or remove cysts in the middle ear known as cholesteatoma.

"Endoscopic surgery has been performed for years in other parts of the body, but transcanal endoscopic ear surgery is still in its early stages," Dr. Fina said. "I started using this approach in 2013 because it allows better visualization around the corners and the deep recesses of the ear. These are areas where chronic disease and cholesteatoma tend to hide and recur."

The traditional way to perform these surgeries is to make an incision behind the ear. Doctors use a microscope to see into the ear, but often it is necessary to drill the bone behind the ear to fully expose the disease. By avoiding the incision and reducing the need to drill the bone, pain is reduced and recovery time is shortened.

Dr. Fina is a leader in her field. She has been invited to speak about her work at conferences in Texas, France and Italy. And she is one of only 12 U.S. doctors who are members of an international organization dedicated to the mastery of endoscopic ear surgery. For more information about her work, go to HealthPartners.com.