Brazilian Society of Otology task force - Otosclerosis: evaluation and treatment.

OBJECTIVES: To review and provide evidence-based recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of otosclerosis. METHODS: Task force members were educated on knowledge synthesis methods, including electronic database search, review and selection of relevant citations, and critical appraisal of selected studies. Articles written in English or Portuguese on otosclerosis were eligible for inclusion. The American College of Physicians' guideline grading system and the American Thyroid Association's guideline criteria were used for critical appraisal of evidence and recommendations for therapeutic interventions. RESULTS: The topics were divided into 2 parts: 1) Diagnosis - audiologic and radiologic; 2) Treatment - hearing AIDS, pharmacological therapy, stapes surgery, and implantable devices - bone-anchored devices, active middle ear implants, and Cochlear Implants (CI). CONCLUSIONS: The pathophysiology of otosclerosis has not yet been fully elucidated, but environmental factors and unidentified genes are likely to play a significant role in it. Women with otosclerosis are not at increased risk of worsening clinical condition due to the use of contraceptives or during pregnancy. Drug treatment has shown little benefit. If the patient does not want to undergo stapedotomy, the use of hearing aids is well indicated. Implantable systems should be indicated only in rare cases, and the CI should be indicated in cases of profound deafness.

BAHA Attract to Osia conversion patients: comparison of the two systems and long-term outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: Osia is a new, transcutaneous, active bone-conduction implant. This study aimed to compare the BAHA Attract and the first-generation Osia system after BAHA Attract to Osia conversion surgery. METHOD: Five patients who had previously used the BAHA Attract system were converted to the first generation of the Osia system. Surgical aspects of the two different systems, audiological performance and subjective opinions of the patients were investigated. Pure tone audiometry and speech audiometry in quiet was performed with each patient's BAHA 5 sound processor on Attract, and the test battery was repeated six weeks after the Attract to Osia conversion and at different time points after the first fitting. Details of the surgery and patients' feedback were analysed. RESULTS: Audiology tests showed significant improvement when using either system; however, the Osia system performance was better. Based on patient feedback, all the five implantees preferred the Osia system. CONCLUSION: The study results suggest that the Osia system is a safe and powerful hearing implant that provides good clinical outcomes.

Ossicular chain reconstruction using costal cartilage in malleoincudal osteoma.

OBJECTIVES: To report an extremely rare case of malleoincudal osteoma that led to conductive hearing loss despite an unusually normal otomicroscopic appearance, and to highlight the usefulness of costal cartilage for ossicular chain reconstruction after tumour removal. CASE REPORT: A 37-year-old woman presented with a 2-year history of progressive, right-sided hearing loss. Physical examination revealed a normal tympanic membrane. Pure tone audiometry showed a right-sided conductive hearing loss. High-resolution computed tomography revealed a right-sided epitympanic mass arising from the malleus head and contiguous with the incus. The patient underwent a closed mastoido-epitympanectomy. The malleus head and the incus with associated malleoincudal osteoma were removed. Ossicular chain reconstruction using costal cartilage was performed at the time of tumour removal. CONCLUSION: The possibility of a middle-ear osteoma must be considered in cases of unilateral and progressive conductive hearing loss with a normal otomicroscopic appearance in patients with no history of ear infection, trauma or prior surgery, and with no family history of hearing loss. Surgical treatment is indicated in cases of significant conductive hearing loss. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of malleoincudal osteoma in which the ossicular chain was reconstructed using costal cartilage.

Comparative analysis between effective gain and functional gain in bone-anchored hearing aid users

Abstract The cases of ear malformations, conductive, mixed, and single-sided deafness hearing loss are candidates for surgery and use of Bone-Anchored Hearing Aids (BAHA). Commonly, the literature highlights two procedures to assess the benefits and characteristics of amplification in users: functional gain (FG) and effective gain (EG). Objective Estimate and compare the EG and the FG to evaluate the benefits obtained by users of BAHA and, later, to compare tests of speech perception in silence and in noise. Methodology The sample (n=79) was divided into four groups, implanted from February 2014 to February 2021. The following tests were analyzed: pure-tone audiometry by air and bone; research of audiometric thresholds in free field; speech perception tests in silence and in noise. Results EG presented lower values than FG in all frequencies. The positive results of the speech perception tests were correlated with worse FG values. EG is the best method for evaluation, as it allows a proper comparison between devices, as well as a comparison with the prescription of validated rules. Conclusions A better evaluation of results was observed on the EG values, indicating that it is a relevant method to assess auditory performance. In addition, the FG results were incompatible with the benefits obtained in the speech perception tests, showing that it is not a reliable tool for monitoring the results with the use of BAHA.

[Active hearing implants in chronic otitis media]. / Aktive Hörimplantate bei chronischer Otitis media.

In patients with inadequate hearing improvement after tympanoplasty and failure of conventional hearing aid fitting, active hearing implants provide an alternative treatment option. Active middle ear implants function as a vibromechanical bypass of the stiffness and damping effect of a poorly oscillating tympanic membrane and the (reconstructed) ossicular chain. The selection of the hearing system depends on the maximum output levels of the hearing system and the anatomical conditions in mostly multiply operated ears. The development of variable coupling elements for active middle ear implants led to an extension of the indications to include not only purely sensorineural hearing loss but also mixed and conductive hearing loss in patients, as the transducer can now be coupled to the (mobile) stapes or the round window membrane. The article provides an overview of current clinical study results and recommendations on the indications for active hearing implants in patients with chronic otitis media.

[Clinical application of transcanal endoscopic ear surgery in the diagnosis and treatment of conductive hearing loss with intact tympanic membrane].

Objective:To explore the clinical efficacy of transcanal endoscopic ear surgery in the diagnosis and treatment of conductive hearing loss with intact tympanic membrane. Method:The clinical data of 16 patients with conductive hearing loss with intact tympanic membrane were retrospectively analyzed. They were diagnosed and treated by transcanal endoscopic ear surgery. Result:All patients were diagnosed by exploratory tympanotomy, including 6 cases of congenital middle ear anomalies, 5 cases of congenital cholesteatoma, 2 cases of congenital middle ear anomalies with congenital cholesteatoma, 2 cases of otosclerosis, and 1 case of traumatic ossicular chain disruption. During the tympanic exploration by transcanal endoscopic ear surgery, different methods of hearing reconstruction were applied according to the intraoperative lesions. Among 14 cases（14 ears）, 7 patients underwent reconstruction with partial ossicular replacement prosthesis （PORP）, 5 patients had total ossicular replacement prosthesis （TORP）, and 2 patients had piston. The remaining 2 patients did not undergot ossicular reconstruction. After the operation, the mean air-conductive threshold of 14 patients decreased from （61.7±6.5） dB HL to （29.8±10.7） dB HL （P<0.01） and the mean ABG decreased from（36.8±3.2） dB HL to （10.7±6.9） dB HL （P<0.01）. 1 case of congenital middle ear anomalies with congenital cholesteatoma underwent the lesion resection without ossicular reconstruction. Due to lack of suitable Piston, 1 case of congenital middle ear anomalies with fixed stapes did not perform hearing reconstruction. No serious complications occured after operations. Conclusion:Transcanal endoscopic ear surgery was suitable for the diagnosis and treatment of conductive hearing loss with intact tympanic membrane. It was minimally invasive with low complications, and the patients had a good hearing recovery after ossicular reconstruction.

Implantation of a new active bone conduction hearing device with optimized geometry.

Here, we describe the surgical technique for implanting a new, active, transcutaneous bone conduction hearing aid. The implant technology is based on a system that has been in use reliably since 2012. The geometry of the new implant has been adapted based on experience with previously introduced implants. The surgery was feasible, standardized, and safe. Due to the optimized geometric design that improved the bone fit, it is not necessary to use specialized, detailed preoperative planning, except in challenging anatomical conditions; e.g., in young children, malformations, poor pneumatization, or after a canal wall down mastoidectomy.

[Implantation of a new active bone conduction hearing device with optimized geometry. German version]. / Implantation eines neuen, aktiven, knochenverankerten elektronischen Hörimplantats mit verkleinerter Geometrie.

Here, we describe the surgical technique for implanting a new, active, transcutaneous bone conduction hearing aid. The implant technology is based on a system that has been in use reliably since 2012. The geometry of the new implant has been adapted based on experience with previously introduced implants. The surgery was feasible, standardized, and safe. Due to the optimized geometric design that improved the bone fit, it is not necessary to use specialized, detailed preoperative planning, except in challenging anatomical conditions; e.g., in young children, malformations, poor pneumatization, or after a canal wall down mastoidectomy.

Management and Outcomes of Spontaneous Cerebrospinal Fluid Otorrhoea.

Objective: A cohort of patients with spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid (sCSF) otorrhoea. To report surgical outcome and discuss a treatment protocol. Materials and Methods: Between 2012 and 2018 all patients presenting with sCSF were collected and data assessment was performed including clinical symptoms (hearing loss, aural fullness, meningitis, recurrent otitis media), preoperative audiometry, CT and MRI scanning. According to the site and size of the dural defect, different surgical approaches were applied. Results: A total of 12 patients (14 operations) were included. Four of these had a history of meningitis. All beta-trace protein testings were positive. These patients were treated with different surgical approaches: middle fossa approach (MCF, seven patients), transmastoid approach (TMA) with bony obliteration of the cavity (three patients), and four patients underwent a subtotal petrosectomy (STP) procedure. Three cases underwent revision surgery (MCF or STP) due to residual disease (CFS leakage). After follow up duration of 13 months (6.5 months SD), no recurrence was observed. No severe adverse events such as cerebrovascular injury, meningitis, wound infection, or headache was observed in the postoperative course. Conclusion: Spontaneous aural cerebrospinal fluid leakage is a rare but manageable pathology with potential severe complications. Appropriate diagnosis, laboratory testing, and imaging is primordial to obtain optimal patient outcome.

Promontory osteoma mimicking otosclerosis: case report.

OBJECTIVE: This case report presents a middle-ear osteoma mimicking otosclerosis that was located at the promontory. The osteoma was successfully excised using an endoscopic transcanal approach without any complication. CASE REPORT: A 21-year-old man presented with a 4-year history of progressive conductive hearing loss (47 dB with a 30-dB air-bone gap) with intermittent tinnitus of recent onset in his right ear. Endoscopic transcanal middle-ear exploration showed that an osteoma located on the promontory was restricting the mobility of the stapes by affecting the anterior crus of the stapes. After transcanal resection of the osteoma, pure tone audiometry improved to 23 dB with a 5-dB air-bone gap. Tinnitus resolved spontaneously without any additional treatment. CONCLUSION: Promontory osteomas, a rare and usually asymptomatic clinical entity, should be taken into consideration in the differential diagnosis in patients with progressive conductive hearing loss and tinnitus with intact stapedial reflexes and normal otoscopic findings.

Contralateral Occlusion Test (COT): the effect of external ear canal occlusion with aging / Teste de Oclusão Contralateral (TOC): o efeito da oclusão do canal auditivo externo com a idade

ABSTRACT Purpose This study aimed to evaluate the effects of complete external ear canal occlusion on hearing thresholds with aging. The goal was to decide which tuning fork is more appropriate to use for the contralateral occlusion test (COT), in individuals of different ages. Methods Forty-two normal hearing subjects between 21 and 67 years were divided into three age groups (20-30 years, 40-50 years, and 60-70 years). Participants underwent sound field audiometry tests with warble tones, with and without ear canal occlusion. Each ear was tested with the standard frequencies (250, 500, 1000, and 2000 Hz). The contralateral ear was suppressed by masking. Results Hearing thresholds showed an increase as the frequency increased from 20.85 dB (250 Hz, 20-30 years group) to 48 dB (2000 Hz, 60-70 years group). The threshold differences between occlusion and no occlusion conditions were statistically significant and increased ranging from 11.1 dB (250 Hz, 20-30 years group) to 32 dB (2000 Hz, 20-30 years group). We found statistically significant differences for the three age groups and for all evaluations except to 500 Hz difference and average difference. The mean hearing loss produced by occlusion at 500 Hz was approximately 19 dB. We found no statistically significant differences between right and left ears and gender for all measurements. Conclusion We conclude that the use of the 512 Hz tuning fork is the most suitable for COT, and its use may allow clinicians to distinguish mild from moderate unilateral conductive hearing loss.

RESUMO Objetivo O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito da oclusão completa do canal auditivo externo nos limiares auditivos, em indivíduos de idades distintas, para apurar qual o diapasão mais adequado na realização do teste de oclusão contralateral (TOC). Método 42 indivíduos normo-ouvintes (21-67 anos) foram divididos em três grupos etários (20-30, 40-50 e 60-70 anos). Os participantes foram avaliados com testes de audiometria tonal liminar em campo livre, com e sem oclusão completa do canal auditivo externo. Cada ouvido foi testado para as frequências 250, 500, 1000 e 2000 Hz. No ouvido contralateral, foi realizado mascaramento, para evitar a ocorrência de audição contralateral. Resultados Verificou-se aumento dos limiares auditivos, diretamente proporcional ao aumento da frequência (desde 20.85 até 48 dB). A diferença nos limiares auditivos entre a condição de oclusão e de não oclusão foi estatisticamente significativa em todas as frequências e aumentou de forma diretamente proporcional com a frequência (desde 11.1 até 32 dB). Foram também encontradas diferenças estatisticamente significativas para os três grupos etários, em todos os parâmetros, exceto na diferença a 500 Hz e na diferença total média. A perda auditiva média resultante da oclusão aos 500 Hz foi de 19 dB. Não se encontraram diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre o ouvido direito e o esquerdo, e entre o gênero. Conclusão A utilização do diapasão de 512 Hz é a mais adequada para o TOC. A sua utilização pode permitir aos clínicos, em ambiente de consulta e de forma rápida, a distinção entre perda condutiva de grau leve a moderada.

Simultaneous operations of vibrant soundbridge implantation and auricular reconstruction for patients with microtia and atresia / 中华整形外科杂志

Objective@#To discuss the safety and efficacy of simultaneous procedures of vibrant soundbridge implantation and auricular reconstruction with congenital external and middle ear malformation.@*Methods@#This is a retrospective study, including 6 patients, 5 boys and 1 girl, aged 7-12 years. All patients received simultaneous operations of vibrant soundbridge implantation and auricular reconstruction. The mean preoperative air conduction threshold was 64.8 dB HL at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz. The VSB was placed in the third stage of auricle reconstruction, if the soft tissue expansion was performed; otherwise, the VSB was implanted in the second stage. The satisfaction with reconstructed auricle, surgical complications, hearing improvement and speech discrimination scores were evaluated 6 months after surgery.@*Results@#All patients and their families reported satisfaction with their reconstructed auricle. There was no complications, including cartilage framework exposion, infection, hematoma, skin flap necrosis, facial paralysis, tinnitus, vertigo or others. Post-operatively, mean VSB-aided hearing threshold was 36.7 dB HL, which was reduced by 28.1 dB HL. The mean speech discrimination scores measured in a sound field with a presentation level of 65 dB SPL and 80 dB SPL were improved.@*Conclusions@#The simultaneous operations of auricle reconstruction and Vibrant Soundbridge implantation is an alternative method for patients with congenital microtia and atresia.

Safety and Effectiveness of Endoscopic Ear Surgery: Systematic Review / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluate that usefulness of the endoscopic ear surgery (EES) through the systematic review. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: We searched literatures in literature databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, etc.). Inclusion criteria is 1) studies of patients with chronic otitis media, otitis media with effusion, cholesteatoma, conductive hearing loss, mixed hearing loss etc. 2) studies in which a transcanal endoscopic surgery was performed; and 3) studies in which one or more of the appropriate medical outcomes have been reported. We excluded that 1) non-human studies and pre-clinical studies; 2) non-original articles, for example, non-systematic reviews; editorial, letter and opinion pieces; 3) research not published in Korean and English; and 4) grey literature. Finally, 65 articles were selected and those results were analyzed. RESULTS: The safety of the EES was reported in 61 articles. Some studies reported damaged facial nerve or perilymph gusher but these are the complications that can arise due to the characteristics of the disease and not due to the EES and other reported complications were of similar or lower level in the intervention group rather than the microscopy group. The effectiveness of the EES was reported in 23 articles. The EES tended to show improved effects in terms of graft uptake status, cholesteatoma removal, and hearing improvement although effective outcomes of most studies reported no significant difference between EES and microscopic ear surgery. CONCLUSION: EES is a safe and effective technique and as it is less invasive than the microscopic ear surgery.

Physical outcome measures for conductive and mixed hearing loss treatment: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: The number of potential options for rehabilitation of patients with conductive or mixed hearing loss is continually expanding. To be able to inform patients and other stakeholders, there is a need to identify and develop patient-centred outcomes for treatment of hearing loss. OBJECTIVE OF REVIEW: To identify outcome measures in the physical core area used when reporting the outcome after treatment of conductive and mixed hearing loss in adult patients. TYPE OF REVIEW: Systematic review. SEARCH STRATEGY: Systematic review of the literature related to reported physical outcome measures after treatment of mixed or conductive hearing loss without restrictions regarding type of intervention, treatment or device. EVALUATION METHOD: Any measure reporting the physical outcome after treatment or intervention of mixed or conductive hearing loss was sought and categorised. The physical outcome measures that had been extracted were then grouped into domains. RESULTS: The literature search resulted in the identification of 1434 studies, of which 153 were selected for inclusion in the review. The majority (57%) of papers reported results from middle ear surgery, with the remainder reporting results from either bone conduction hearing devices or middle ear implants. Outcomes related to complications were categorised into 17 domains, whereas outcomes related to treatment success was categorised into 22 domains. CONCLUSIONS: The importance of these domains to patients and other stakeholders needs to be further explored in order to establish which of these domains are most relevant to interventions for conductive or mixed hearing loss. This will allow us to then assess which outcome measures are most suitable for inclusion in the core set.

Erosion of the long process of the incus with incomplete ossicular discontinuity in simple chronic otitis media: Should we reconstruct or leave it be?

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether patients with simple chronic otitis media and incomplete ossicular discontinuity should undergo ossicular reconstruction. DESIGN: Prospective, randomised surgical trial comparing no intervention with incus interposition over a 5-year period. SETTING: Tertiary referral hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Seventy-six participants with simple chronic otitis media and erosion of the long process of the incus but apparent good transmission throughout the ossicular chain as tested intra-operatively. Forty-four patients had partial erosion of the incus but still bony contact with the stapes head (Group A-Type I), and 32 had mainly connective tissue binding the incus and stapes (Group B-Type II). Each of these groups was randomised to either leaving the ossicular chain as it was (A1 and B1) or performing an incus interposition (A2 and B2). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Average postoperative air-bone gap and the degree of ABG closure. A postoperative air-bone gap under 20 dB was considered a successful result. RESULTS: In group A, there was no significant difference between no intervention and incus interposition. In group B, patients in the no reconstruction subgroup had a significantly worse hearing result than the incus interposition subgroup (postoperative air-bone gap of 27.5 dB and 31% closure within 20 dB vs 15 dB and 75% closure). CONCLUSIONS: For Type I patients, the postoperative hearing results were similar for the reconstruction and no reconstruction groups. For Type II patients, the results clearly favour reconstruction.

Estudio Transversal: Hipoacusia Laboral Inducida por Ruido en Personal de Aeronáutica del Ejército Ecuatoriano y Factores Asociados. Quito ­ Ecuador, 2014 - 2016 / Cross-sectional research: Noise-induced Occupational Hypoacusis in Aeronautical Personnel of the Ecuadorian Army and Associated Factors. Quito - Ecuador, 2014 - 2016

INTRODUCCIÓN: La hipoacusia laboral inducida por ruido es una patología ocupacional frecuente, responsable de pérdidas de la audición sino se controla a tiempo. El objetivo del estudio fue establecer la prevalencia de hipoacusia laboral inducida por ruido y factores relacionados en el personal de aeronáutica del ejército. MÉTODOS: Estudio transversal analítico en el personal tripulación del ejército ecuatoriano, Quito ­ Ecuador, período 2014 ­ 2016 que relacionó asociación causal entre hipoacusia laboral inducida por ruido con variables como edad, función, rango, antecedentes de hipoacusia en el servicio militar. Se trabajó con todo el personal de vuelo, 112 militares en servicio activo. RESULTADOS: El promedio de edad fue de 37 años. Todos eran varones. El 55.4 % pertenecía a tropa y 44. 6 % eran oficiales. El 44.6 % eran pilotos; 28.6 % mecánicos y 26.8 % ingenieros de vuelo. La prevalencia de hipoacusia general fue del 35.6 %; la de hipoacusia unilateral fue del 19.6 % y de la bilateral del 16 %. La frecuencia de antecedentes de hipoacusia laboral asociada a ruido en la aeronáutica fue del 60.7 %. La prevalencia de hipoacusia leve fue del 17.8 %; moderada con 6.7 % y severa con 1.35 %. Las variables asociadas a hipoacusia laboral inducida por ruido en el personal militar en funciones de vuelo fueron: la edad, el rango, la función y antecedentes de hipoacusia. El oído izquierdo suele afectarse más que el derecho. La hipoacusia bilateral más frecuente fue la leve derecha con agudeza normal izquierda (10.7 %). CONCLUSIONES: La hipoacusia laboral inducida por ruido es multifactorial y puede ser reversible si se detiene el causal o si se llevan a cabo medidas de protección adecuadas. El nivel de hipoacusia en el personal militar de vuelo tiene asociación con: la edad, el rango, la función y los antecedentes de hipoacusia laboral en funciones de vuelo.

BACKGROUND: Hearing loss is induced by noise in job and is a frequent illness, responsible of hearing loss if it is not controlled on time. The aim of this study is establish the prevalence of hearing loss and related factors in army aviation personnel. METHODS: An analytical cross - sectional study of the Ecuadorian army crew, Quito - Ecuador, between 2014 and 2016, which related a causal association between hearing loss induced by noise in job with variables such as age, function, rank and backgrounds of hearing loss in military service. It worked with all the personnel of flight 112 military in active service. RESULTS: The mean age was 37 years. All were male. 55.4% belonged to troops and 44. 6 % were officers. 44.6 % were pilots; 28.6 % were mechanics and 26.8 % were flight engineers. The prevalence of general hearing loss was 35.6 %. The prevalence of unilateral hearing loss was 19.6 % and bilateral prevalence was 16 %. The frequency of antecedents of occupational hearing loss associated with aviation noise in this staff was of 60.7 %. The prevalence of mild hearing loss was 17.85 %; moderate hearing loss 6.7 % and severe of 1.35 %, no profound hearing loss was reported. The variables associated with decreased auditory acuity are: age, aviation exercise time, range, function, and history of hearing loss within the aeronautical field. Bilateral damage has a statistical tendency with age and association with the range. No deep hearing loss was found. CONCLUSION: Noise-induced occupational hearing loss is multifactorial and may be reversible if the cause is stopped or appropriate protective measures are taken. The level of hearing loss in military flight personnel has an association with: age, range, function, and history of occupational hearing loss in flight functions.

Methodology for Intraoperative Laser Doppler Vibrometry Measurements of Ossicular Chain Reconstruction.

OBJECTIVES: Despite the increasing number of research concerning the applications of the Laser Doppler Vibrometry (LDV) in medicine, its usefulness is still under discussion. The aim of this study is to present a methodology developed in our Department for the LDV intraoperative assessment of ossicular chain reconstruction. METHODS: Ten patients who underwent "second look" tympanoplasty were involved in the study. The measurements of the acoustic conductivity of the middle ear were performed using the LDV system. Tone bursts with carrier frequencies of 500, 1,000, 2,000, and 4,000 Hz set in motion the ossicular chain. The study was divided into four experiments that examined the intra- and interindividual reproducibility, the utility of the posterior tympanotomy, the impact of changes in the laser beam angle, and the influence of reflective tape presence on measurements. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between the two measurements performed in the same patient. However, interindividual differences were significant. In all cases, posterior tympanotomy proved to be useful for LDV measurements of the ossicular prosthesis vibrations. In most cases, changing the laser beam angle decreased signal amplitude about 1.5% (not significant change). The reflective tape was necessary to achieve adequate reflection of the laser beam. CONCLUSION: LDV showed to be a valuable noncontact intraoperative tool for measurements of the middle ear conductive system mobility with a very good intraindividual repeatability. Neither a small change in the angle of the laser beam nor performing the measurements through posterior tympanotomy showed a significant influence on the results. Reflective tape was necessary to obtain good quality responses in LDV measurements.

Surgical and Audiologic Comparison Between Sophono and Bone-Anchored Hearing Aids Implantation.

OBJECTIVES: Bone-anchored hearing aids (BAHA) occasionally cause soft tissue problems due to abutment. Because Sophono does not have abutment penetrating skin, it is thought that Sophono has no soft tissue problem relating to abutment. On the other hand, transcutaneous device's output is reported to be 10 to 15 dB lower than percutaneous device. Therefore, in this study, Sophono and BAHA were compared to each other from surgical and audiological points of view. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 9 Sophono patients and 10 BAHA patients. In BAHA cases, single vertical incision without skin thinning technique was done. We compared Sophono to BAHA by operation time, wound healing time, postoperative complications, postoperative hearing gain after switch on, and postoperative air-bone gap. RESULTS: The mean operation time was 60 minutes for Sophono and 25 minutes for BAHA. The wound healing time was 14 days for Sophono and 28 days for BAHA. No major intraoperative complication was observed. Skin problem was not observed in the 2 devices for the follow-up period. Postoperative hearing gain of bilateral aural atresia patients was 39.4 dB for BAHA (n=4) and 25.5 dB for Sophono (n=5). However, the difference was not statistically significant. In all patients included in this study, the difference of air-bone gap between two groups was 16.6 dB at 0.5 kHz and 18.2 dB at 4 kHz. BAHA was statistically significantly better than Sophono. CONCLUSION: Considering the audiologic outcome, BAHA users were thought to have more audiologic benefit than Sophono users. However, Sophono had advantages over BAHA with abutment in cosmetic outcome. Sophono needed no daily skin maintenance and soft tissue complication due to abutment would not happen in Sophono. Therefore, a full explanation about each device is necessary before deciding implantation.

Vestibulotomy in Congenital Stapes Fixation with Anomalous Facial Nerve / 대한이비인후과학회지

Conductive hearing loss is a condition that can be corrected surgically in most cases. Stapedotomy is usually performed for patients with congenital ossicular anomaly or fixation. However, otologic surgeons have often encountered difficulty due to the complexity of stapes surgery. Moreover, congenital stapes fixation with anomalous facial nerve and oval window absence is an uncommon and dangerous condition. In such cases, vestibulotomy can be a surgical option to prevent facial nerve damage and improve hearing. The etiology can be explained by the embryological development of the middle ear structures. To prevent facial nerve damage and maximize the efficacy of surgery, the surgeon should have knowledge about this disease and take a computed tomography for double check before stapes surgery. We describe a case of congenital stapes fixation with aberrant facial nerve courses, a 15-year-old female who was treated with vestibulotomy and piston wire insertion.

Surgical and Audiologic Comparison Between Sophono and Bone-Anchored Hearing Aids Implantation

OBJECTIVES: Bone-anchored hearing aids (BAHA) occasionally cause soft tissue problems due to abutment. Because Sophono does not have abutment penetrating skin, it is thought that Sophono has no soft tissue problem relating to abutment. On the other hand, transcutaneous device's output is reported to be 10 to 15 dB lower than percutaneous device. Therefore, in this study, Sophono and BAHA were compared to each other from surgical and audiological points of view. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 9 Sophono patients and 10 BAHA patients. In BAHA cases, single vertical incision without skin thinning technique was done. We compared Sophono to BAHA by operation time, wound healing time, postoperative complications, postoperative hearing gain after switch on, and postoperative air-bone gap. RESULTS: The mean operation time was 60 minutes for Sophono and 25 minutes for BAHA. The wound healing time was 14 days for Sophono and 28 days for BAHA. No major intraoperative complication was observed. Skin problem was not observed in the 2 devices for the follow-up period. Postoperative hearing gain of bilateral aural atresia patients was 39.4 dB for BAHA (n=4) and 25.5 dB for Sophono (n=5). However, the difference was not statistically significant. In all patients included in this study, the difference of air-bone gap between two groups was 16.6 dB at 0.5 kHz and 18.2 dB at 4 kHz. BAHA was statistically significantly better than Sophono. CONCLUSION: Considering the audiologic outcome, BAHA users were thought to have more audiologic benefit than Sophono users. However, Sophono had advantages over BAHA with abutment in cosmetic outcome. Sophono needed no daily skin maintenance and soft tissue complication due to abutment would not happen in Sophono. Therefore, a full explanation about each device is necessary before deciding implantation.