Relationship Between Middle Ear Volume and Long-term Audiological Outcomes in Congenital Aural Atresia Repair

Objective: To evaluate the long-term safety and efficacy of the Clip coupler attached to the stapes head in patients with unilateral congenital aural atresia (CAA). Methods: This single-center retrospective study included 16 Mandarin-speaking patients who had unilateral microtia accompanied by CAA. All patients were divided into two groups: the short-term follow-up group (n = 9) and the long-term follow-up group (n = 7). The floating mass transducer of the Vibrant Soundbridge (VSB) was positioned in the stapes head by the Clip coupler. The safety of the VSB was investigated by comparing preoperative and postoperative bone-conduction (BC) thresholds as well as by complications. The effectiveness was evaluated by functional gain (FG), word recognition score (WRS), speech reception threshold (SRT) and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Results: Pre- and post-operative BC thresholds were no different in all patients. And no complications developed. VSB-aided thresholds in the free-field had improved significantly in both short- and long-term follow-up groups. The improvements of WRS were observed in two groups. The monosyllabic VSB-aided WRS in the long-term follow-up group was significantly higher than that in the short-term follow-up group. When speech was from the impaired ear and noise presented to the side of normal ear (SVSBNCL), lower SNRs were found in two groups after VSB implantation. However, there was no statistical difference in aided SNR between the two groups at SVSBNCL status. Conclusions: Our results show that the FMT connected to the stapes head is a secure and useful device for patients with unilateral CHL/MHL, not only in terms of improved hearing thresholds, but also improved speech intelligibility in quiet and noisy environments.

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Active middle ear implant (vibrant soundbridge) in children with unilateral congenital aural atresia

Acta Oto-Laryngologica ◽

10.1080/00016489.2020.1823471 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 141 (1) ◽

pp. 34-38

Author(s):

Masahiro Takahashi ◽

Satoshi Iwasaki ◽

Sakiko Furutate ◽

Shinichiro Oka ◽

Shogo Oyamada ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Middle Ear ◽

Vibrant Soundbridge ◽

Aural Atresia ◽

Active Middle Ear Implant ◽

Middle Ear Implant ◽

Congenital Aural Atresia

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Prognostic factors for long-term hearing preservation after canal-tympanoplasty for congenital aural atresia

European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology ◽

10.1007/s00405-014-3164-6 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 272 (11) ◽

pp. 3151-3156 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Takashi Sakamoto ◽

Shu Kikuta ◽

Yayoi S. Kikkawa ◽

Makoto Kinoshita ◽

Yuki Saito ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Prognostic Factors ◽

Hearing Preservation ◽

Aural Atresia ◽

Congenital Aural Atresia

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Strategies of Active Middle Ear Implants for Hearing Rehabilitation in Congenital Aural Atresia

Otology & Neurotology ◽

10.1097/mao.0b013e318212023c ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 32 (4) ◽

pp. 639-645 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

Nicolas Verhaert ◽

Carine Fuchsmann ◽

Stéphane Tringali ◽

Geneviève Lina-Granade ◽

Eric Truy

Keyword(s):

Middle Ear ◽

Hearing Rehabilitation ◽

Aural Atresia ◽

Middle Ear Implants ◽

Congenital Aural Atresia

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Grading system for the selection of patients with congenital aural atresia for active middle ear implants

Neuroradiology ◽

10.1007/s00234-013-1177-2 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 55 (7) ◽

pp. 895-911 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Henning Frenzel ◽

Georg Sprinzl ◽

Gerlig Widmann ◽

Dirk Petersen ◽

Barbara Wollenberg ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Middle Ear ◽

Grading System ◽

Aural Atresia ◽

Middle Ear Implants ◽

Congenital Aural Atresia ◽

Selection Of Patients ◽

Selection Of

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Long term results of postoperative canal stenosis in congenital aural atresia surgery

Acta Oto-Laryngologica ◽

10.1080/03655230701624814 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 127 (sup558) ◽

pp. 15-21 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Sun O Chang ◽

Jun Ho Lee ◽

Byung Yoon Choi ◽

Jae-Jin Song

Keyword(s):

Long Term Results ◽

Aural Atresia ◽

Canal Stenosis ◽

Congenital Aural Atresia

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Middle ear volume as an adjunct measure in congenital aural atresia

International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology ◽

10.1016/j.ijporl.2011.04.004 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 75 (7) ◽

pp. 910-914 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Alexander J. Osborn ◽

John S. Oghalai ◽

Jeffrey T. Vrabec

Keyword(s):

Middle Ear ◽

Aural Atresia ◽

Congenital Aural Atresia

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Original Solution for Middle Ear Implant and Anesthetic/Surgical Management in a Child with Severe Craniofacial Dysmorphism

Case Reports in Otolaryngology ◽

10.1155/2015/205972 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 2015 ◽

pp. 1-4 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Giovanni Bianchin ◽

Lorenzo Tribi ◽

Aronne Reverzani ◽

Patrizia Formigoni ◽

Valeria Polizzi

Keyword(s):

Middle Ear ◽

Bone Conduction ◽

The Novel ◽

Original Solution ◽

Aural Atresia ◽

Middle Ear Implant ◽

Craniofacial Dysmorphism ◽

Surgical Application ◽

Congenital Aural Atresia ◽

Bone Conduction Device

We describe the novel solution adopted in positioning middle ear implant in a child with bilateral congenital aural atresia and craniofacial dysmorphism that have posed a significant challenge for the safe and correct management of deafness. A five-year-old child, affected by a rare congenital disease (Van Maldergem Syndrome), suffered from conductive hearing loss. Conventional skin-drive bone-conduction device, attached with a steel spring headband, has been applied but auditory restoration was not optimal. The decision made was to position Vibrant Soundbridge, a middle ear implant, with an original surgical application due to hypoplasia of the tympanic cavity. Intubation procedure was complicated due to child craniofacial deformities. Postoperative hearing rehabilitation involved a multidisciplinary team, showing improved social skills and language development.

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