Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of a New Active Transcutaneous Bone Conduction Implant.

OBJECTIVE: This review aims to quantify the pooled functional gain (FG) in different types of hearing loss with the transcutaneous hearing device, Osia (Cochlear, Sydney, Australia) in comparison with the unaided state. Secondary outcomes are patient-reported outcomes measures (PROMs) and complication rates. DATA SOURCES: Medline, Embase, SCOPUS, Cochrane CENTRAL, PROSPERO and Cochrane Library. REVIEW METHODS: Systematic review and meta-analysis of indexed search terms relating to "Osia," "Osseointegration," "Cochlear Implant," and "Bone-Anchored Prosthesis" was performed from database inception to September 20, 2022. RESULTS: Of the 168 studies identified, 14 studies with 15 patient cohorts (n = 314) met inclusion criteria for meta-analysis. Pooled overall mean FG for all types of hearing loss was 35.0 dB sound pressure level (SPL) (95% confidence interval [CI] 29.12-40.97) compared against unaided hearing. Pooled FG for conductive/mixed hearing loss was 37.7 dB SPL (95% CI 26.1-49.3). Pooled single-sided deafness (SSD) FG could not be calculated due to the small patient cohort for whom SSD data was reported. There is a trend toward improvements in speech receptiveness threshold, signal to noise ratio, and some PROMs compared with baseline hearing. Early complication rates demonstrate risks similar to other transcutaneous implants, with a low predicted explantation (0.11%, 95% CI 0.00%-1.90%) and wound infection rate (1.92% [95% CI 0.00%-6.17%]). No articles directly comparing transcutaneous devices were identified. CONCLUSION: The Osia devices demonstrate clear audiologic benefits and a good safety profile for the included patient population. Our study results indicate that frequency-specific gain, PROMs, and the audiological benefit in single-sided deafness may be areas for future prospective research. Laryngoscope, 134:1531-1539, 2024.

Occipital encephalocele in a neonate: a case successfully managed by excision and formation of a reverse visor scalp flap.

Encephaloceles are one form of neural tube defect and are associated with partial absence of skull bone fusion, with an incidence of 1-4 cases for every 10 000 live births. We report the case of a neonate born at term, with an antenatal diagnosis of occipital encephalocele, which was successfully managed with excision and formation of a reverse visor scalp flap on day 2 of life.Surgery was performed in a single stage, involving a multidisciplinary approach between neurosurgery and plastic surgery teams, with wider management involving neonatal intensive care, paediatric, obstetric and anaesthetic teams.The patient had no early postoperative complications, and we use this case report to demonstrate that a reverse visor scalp flap is a good option to cover full-thickness defects in patients with encephaloceles.Furthermore, we advocate early repair and a multidisciplinary approach to minimise the morbidity associated with occipital encephaloceles.

Defining a national reference level for intraoperative radiation exposure in urological procedures: FLASH, a retrospective multicentre UK study.

OBJECTIVES: To define reference levels for intraoperative radiation during stent insertion, ureteroscopy (URS), and percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL); to identify variation in radiation exposure between individual hospitals across the UK, between low- and high-volume PCNL centres, and between grade of lead surgeon. PATIENTS/SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In all, 3651 patients were identified retrospectively across 12 UK hospitals over a 1-year period. Radiation exposure was defined in terms of total fluoroscopy time (FT) and dose area product (DAP). The 75th percentiles of median values for each hospital were used to define reference levels for each procedure. RESULTS: Reference levels: ureteric stent insertion/replacement (DAP, 2.3 Gy/cm2 ; FT, 49 s); URS (DAP, 2.8 Gy/cm2 ; FT, 57 s); PCNL (DAP, 24.1 Gy/cm2 ; FT, 431 s). Significant variations in the median DAP and FT were identified between individual centres for all procedures (P < 0.001). For PCNL, there was a statistically significant difference between DAP for low- (<50 cases/annum) and high-volume centres (>50 cases/annum), at a median DAP of 15.0 Gy/cm2 vs 4.2 Gy/cm2 (P < 0.001). For stent procedures, the median DAP and FT differed significantly between grade of lead surgeon: Consultant (DAP, 2.17 Gy/cm2 ; FT, 41 s) vs Registrar (DAP, 1.38 Gy/cm2 ; FT, 26 s; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This multicentre study is the largest of its kind. It provides the first national reference level to guide fluoroscopy use in urological procedures, thereby adding a quantitative and objective value to complement the principles of keeping radiation exposure 'as low as reasonably achievable'. This snapshot of real-time data shows significant variation around the country, as well as significant differences between low- and high-volume centres for PCNL, and grade of lead surgeon for stent procedures.

Bilateral acetabular fractures induced by an epileptic seizure in a paediatric patient: a unique case and its management.

Bilateral acetabular fractures following epileptic seizures are a rare but known occurrence in adults, with an 18.5% mortality rate. These fractures occurring post epileptic seizures have not been previously documented in children. We report a case of a 13-year-old boy who presented to hospital via ambulance following two violent generalised tonic-clonic seizures in a postictal state, metabolically acidotic and a low haemoglobin. Acute abdomen was suspected and the patient underwent a CT scan which showed bilateral acetabular fractures with central dislocations of both femoral heads and free fluid in the abdomen. The patient underwent initial damage control intervention with insertion of bilateral distal femur skeletal traction. Definitive fixation of the acetabular fractures occurred 1 week later with an open reduction internal fixation with novel supra-pectineal plates using a Pfannenstiel incision. We use this report to increase awareness of significant pelvic injuries in paediatric patients post epileptic seizures.