Improving temporal bone dissection using self-directed virtual reality simulation: results of a randomized blinded control trial.

OBJECTIVE: A significant benefit of virtual reality (VR) simulation is the ability to provide self-direct learning for trainees. This study aims to determine whether there are any differences in performance of cadaver temporal bone dissections between novices who received traditional teaching methods and those who received unsupervised self-directed learning in a VR temporal bone simulator. STUDY DESIGN: Randomized blinded control trial. SETTING: Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital. SUBJECTS: Twenty novice trainees. METHODS: After receiving an hour lecture, participants were randomized into 2 groups to receive an additional 2 hours of training via traditional teaching methods or self-directed learning using a VR simulator with automated guidance. The simulation environment presented participants with structured training tasks, which were accompanied by real-time computer-generated feedback as well as real operative videos and photos. After the training, trainees were asked to perform a cortical mastoidectomy on a cadaveric temporal bone. The dissection was videotaped and assessed by 3 otologists blinded to participants' teaching group. RESULTS: The overall performance scores of the simulator-based training group were significantly higher than those of the traditional training group (67% vs 29%; P < .001), with an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.93, indicating excellent interrater reliability. Using other assessments of performance, such as injury size, the VR simulator-based training group also performed better than the traditional group. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that self-directed learning on VR simulators can be used to improve performance on cadaver dissection in novice trainees compared with traditional teaching methods alone.

Can virtual reality simulator be used as a training aid to improve cadaver temporal bone dissection? Results of a randomized blinded control trial.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: This study aims to determine whether there are improved performances in cadaver temporal bone dissection after training using a VR simulator as a teaching aid compared with traditional training methods STUDY DESIGN: Randomized control trial. METHODS: Twenty participants with minimal temporal bone experience were recruited for this randomized control trial. After receiving the same didactic teaching they were randomized into two groups. The traditional group were to receive addition teaching via traditional teaching methods such as small group tutorials, videos, and models. The VR group received supervised teaching on the VR simulator. At the end of their teaching they were asked to perform a cadaveric temporal bone dissection and had their performance videoed and assessed by blinded assessors. The assessors judged the videos on four domains of assessments looking at the end product, injury size, overall performance, and technique. These assessments were based on the Welling's scale and OSATS. RESULTS: The VR group performed significantly better in the end product of the dissection (VR 80% vs. traditional 45%, P-value <.001) and caused smaller injuries to anatomic structures (VR 19% vs. traditional 36%, P-value = .01). They also did better in the overall performance score (VR 55% vs. traditional 35%, P-value = .04) There were no differences in the technique score. There was a fair to moderate degree of interrater reliability between the assessors (kappa = 0.33-0.47; Intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.34-0.76). CONCLUSION: Supervised teaching using a VR simulator seems to improve cadaveric temporal bone dissection performance compared with traditional teaching methods.

A case of eyelid paraffinoma that developed after endoscopic sinus surgery.

Paraffin has been used as a liquid prosthesis for medical purposes, and is still the base material in some ointments. However, it sometimes causes foreign-body reaction resulting in paraffinoma. We present a case of paraffinoma in a 64-year-old woman, which occurred in the eyelid after endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic sinusitis. During surgery, a small perforation developed in the left lamina papyracea, and therefore tetracycline ointment gauze was inserted. Two days after discharge, her left eyelid became swollen. The result of an open biopsy was paraffinoma. Total resection of the tumor was performed, and at the time of writing there has been no recurrence for 1 year after surgery.

Fluctuating mixed-type hearing loss associated with synovitis-acne-pustulosis-hyperostosis-osteomyelitis (SAPHO) syndrome.

Synovitis, acne, palmoplantar pustulosis (PPP), hyperostosis, and osteitis (SAPHO) are the characteristic features of SAPHO syndrome. A 53-year-old woman had been treated for PPP for 2 years. She complained of hearing loss in the right ear, and otitis externa was diagnosed. The pure-tone audiogram (PTA) indicated mild hearing loss in the right ear, and her hearing continued to deteriorate despite recovery from inflammation. Her tympanogram was of the As-type, and acoustic reflex was absent in the right ear. A computed tomography (CT) scan revealed bilateral normal ossicles and cochleas. Bone scintigraphy revealed tracer uptake in the bilateral sternoclavicular joints, glenohumeral joints, and the capital humerus. She was hospitalized for arthralgia, and the pain was controlled with steroid therapy. Her right hearing deteriorated soon after the tapering of the steroid; her hearing recovered after cyclosporine therapy was initiated. The first tonsil provocation test showed increased blood cells in the urine, and the second test showed exacerbation of pustulosis. Despite immunosuppressant therapy, the arthritis attacks and hearing loss persisted; therefore, tonsillectomy was performed, which improved PPP. However, her hearing remained unchanged after the operation. We considered that irreversible changes might have already developed in the ossicular joints, and ossicular reconstruction was performed. Thereafter, her hearing and earache improved.

Bilateral progressive hearing loss and vestibular dysfunction with inner ear antibodies.

Autoimmune inner ear disease (AIED) is a clinical syndrome of uncertain etiology. We present the neuro-otological findings of 2 cases of bilateral hearing loss, dizziness and the antibody profiles of the inner ears. Case 1 had bilateral progressive hearing loss, vestibular dysfunction and abnormal eye movement as the disease progressed. She had inner ear antibodies against 42 and 58kDa protein antigency on Western blot immune assay, and responded to glycocorticosteroid but not to immunosuppressant treatment. Intratympanic steroid injection temporally eliminated her symptoms. However, she developed idiopathic Cushing's syndrome and underwent labyrinthectomy. Case 2 became deaf as a teenager and experienced dizziness 10 years after becoming deaf. He reacted strongly to 68kDa protein and was a good responder to immunosuppressant with steroid. As we still lack a definitive diagnostic test for AIED, careful observation of the clinical course is critical for differential diagnosis regarding the bilateral progressive hearing loss.

Gender differences in the clinical characteristics among Japanese patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Gender differences in the prevalence of various manifestations of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is not as great as previously believed. The aim of the present study was to clarify the clinical patient characteristics of Japanese women and men with OSAS. METHODS: A cross-sectional case-match control study was performed on patients from two sleep disorder centers. Two hundred forty-five women with OSAS were classified into premenopausal (n = 70) and postmenopausal (n = 175) groups. As well, 245 men matched for both age and apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and another 245 men matched for age and body mass index (BMI) were established. We compared descriptive variables between genders in both the premenopausal and the postmenopausal female patient groups. RESULTS: As a whole, female patients had significantly higher BMI than AHI-matched male patients (p < 0.05) and a significantly lower value of AHI than BMI-matched male patients (p < 0.001). Female patients had lower Epworth Sleepiness Scale scores than BMI-matched male patients (p < 0.05). On logistic regression analysis, presence of hypertension was significantly associated with BMI (>or=25 kg/m(2)), AHI (>or= 15 to < 30 events/h; >or= 30 to < 60 events/h; >or= 60 events/h), and presence of both hyperlipidemia and diabetes mellitus. However, gender differences were not associated with the occurrence of hypertension. Female patients had significantly lower optimal levels of continuous positive airway pressure than male patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that both the OSAS severity and the strength of pharyngeal closure is less in Japanese female patients than in male patients. Moreover, Japanese female patients are thought to have less daytime sleepiness than male patients but a similar rate of hypertension as male patients.

A case of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis presenting with vertigo.

We report a 37-year-old woman with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) who presented with progressive vertigo. A central nervous system disorder was initially suspected because gaze-evoked torsional nystagmus was observed and electrical nystagmography (ENG) revealed abnormal eye movements with saccadic ocular pursuit and pathological optokinetic nystagmus. Finally ADEM was diagnosed by the clinical symptoms and the characteristic patterns of brain MRI. It is rare for otolaryngologists to examine patients with ADEM. ADEM takes an acute course and can present a grave state and therefore needs early diagnosis, early treatment. We have to keep ADEM in mind in the diagnosis of vertigo.

Congenital inner ear malformations without sensorineural hearing loss.

It has been reported that normal hearing is rare in patients with severe inner ear vestibular malformations [Kokai H, Oohashi M, Ishikawa K, Harada K, Hiratsuka H, Ogasawara M et al. Clinical review of inner ear malformation. J Otolaryngol Jpn 2003;106(10):1038-44; Schuknecht HF. Mondini dysplasia. A clinical pathological study. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 1980;89(Suppl. 65):1-23; Jackler RK, Luxford WM, House WF. Congenital malformations of the inner ear: a classification based on embryogenesis. Laryngoscope 1987;97:2-14; Phelps PD. Congenital lesions of the inner ear, demonstrated by tomography. Arch Otolaryngol 1974;100:11-8]. A 37-year-old woman had combined dysplasia of the posterior and lateral semicircular canals (PSCC, LSCC) with normal cochlear development and normal hearing in both ears. She had complained of dizziness for 8 months. High resolution computed tomography (CT) showed hypogenesis of the bony labyrinth in both ears. Bilateral PSCC and LSCC dysplasia and dilatation of the vestibule were detected. Magnetic resonant imaging (MRI) revealed that the deformity of the PSCC was more severe than the LSCC. Although the caloric test of the left ear elicited no nystagmus and there was reduced response in the right ear, the horizontal vestibulo-occular reflex (VOR) was present. Her dizzy sensation disappeared within 3 months without special treatment. The dizziness attack might have been caused by a temporary breakdown of her peripheral vestibular system.

Effects of insertion depth of cochlear implant electrodes upon speech perception.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the insertion depth of a cochlear implant array affects postoperative speech perception. DESIGN: The subjects were 48 postlingually deaf adults who received either the Nucleus 22 or the Nucleus 24 cochlear implant with a straight array. A postoperative radiograph of the cochlear electrode was used to estimate insertion depth, as either the angle of the electrode tip (angle) or the intracochlear length of the electrode (length). Other estimates of insertion depth included the numbers of active electrodes and channels used by the speech processor. Electrode depth, together with the duration of deafness, hearing aid usage, pre-operative speech perception score and pre-operative pure-tone averages were independent variables in a forward stepwise multiple regression analysis, where the dependent variables were postoperative CNC words and CNC phonemes. RESULTS: Duration of deafness and insertion depth (angle, insertion length or active electrodes) were the predictive variables for CNC words or CNC phonemes. Angle was the best 'depth-related' predictor of postoperative speech perception. An even clearer relationship was found between CUNY sentences in noise and angle, in a subset of 26 patients. CONCLUSION: Depth of electrode insertion affects postoperative speech perception.