Ergebnisse der mit der Obliteration des runden/ovalen Fensters erreichten Behandlungserfolge bei der einseitigen, akut aufgetretenen, idiopathischen sensorineuralen Hörminderung

ZusammenfassungFormerly explorative tympanotomies including sealing of the round/oval window/s have only been used in treating perilymphatic fistulas. During the last years this operation especially in the middle European countries has also been performed more and more in patients suffering from an ISSNHL. In this chapter the effect of this operation including a simultaneous systematic steroid therapy on hearing levels has been collected from data presented in literature and the results will be presented by means of a systematic review. The survey also includes the results of this operative procedure in 41 patients who have been treated by us.Based on 19 publications dealing with the above mentioned topic only 6 studies (4 of them with information about the hearing loss at the time of admission at the hospital and additionally at a follow-up examination (n = 309)) could be integrated in this study and another 2 in which the hearing gains –regardless of the initial hearing loss- according to the modified „Kanzaki“-criteria (n = 288)) have been evaluated- could be used for estimating the therapeutic effects of tympanoscopy with sealing of the round/oval windosw/s in patients with sudden deafness.The follow-up examination had to exceed a 3 weeks interval up from the time of the operation. It is shown that several methods of evaluation the median hearing loss (PTA4 and PTA5) in pure tone audiograms are suitable to be accepted for the analysis of hearing losses in order to compare the results of the treatment.In each study-group collected from literature and two study-groups of our own patients the hearing loss before therapy was significantly higher than that which had been measured at the follow-up examination.Patients in which tympanoscopy was combined with a systematic application of steroids in a „first-line-mode“ (n = 79) had a hearing loss of 94,1 dB. Their hearing improved up to a hearing level of 70,7 dB at the follow-up examination (hearing gain: 23,4 dB; n = 79). Those who first had got systematic steroids followed by the tympanoscopy („second-line-mode“) had an intitial hearing loss of 105,1 dB and a hearing gain of 38,6 dB. So the final hearing level reached 66,5 dB (n = 197).Median hearing thresholds still rose after detamponation of the external ear canal which was usually done 10 days after the operation up to the follow-up examination.Based on the modified „Kanzaki“-criteria 58,7 % of the patients had a restoration in their hearing exceeding 30 dB. In 18,7 % of the cases the hearing improvement was between 10 and 30 dB. 23,1 % of the patients didn`t profit from tympanoscopy.Indications for deciding to perform an explorative tymapnosocopy which are mentioned in literature are collected and discussed.Explorative tympanotomy including sealing of the round/oval window/s seems to be a very valuable method in treating sudden deafness especially when the hearing loss was severe, profound or even when the patients were totally deaf and the therapeutic procedure had been done sequentially after having performed a systematic steroid application before operation. Further studies have to find out if tympanoscopy used in a „first-line-mode“ can also be a method in which the hearing gain is successful enough that this form of therapy can also be recommended.

A study to evaluate bone and cartilage ossiculoplasty in patients of ossicular disruption due to chronic suppurative otitis media

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> Ossiculoplasty for ossicualar disruption in patients of chronic otitis media (COM) can be done by using either bone or cartilage. The present study was planned to compare bone and cartilage ossiculoplasty in patients of ossicular disruption due to COM.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> The prospective observational study was carried out in patients, who were admitted in the department of otorhinolaryngology of a tertiary care teaching hospital of Rajasthan during two years from November 2017 to November 2019. All patients with ossicular disruption due to COM and conductive hearing loss more than 40db were included in the study. Patients with sensorineural hearing loss were excluded from the study. Pure tone audiometry (PTA) was done before surgery. Hearing improvement was assessed 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery. </p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> In the present study 20 patients underwent bone ossiculoplasty using autologous incus and autologous cartilage was used in 80 patients for ossiculoplasty. Post-operative hearing gain was significantly more in autologous incus patients (22.7±4.2 db) compared to autologous cartilage (19.5±3.4 db) (p=0.002).</p><p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> The present study concluded that post-operative hearing gain was significantly better with autologous incus compared to autologous cartilage although both showed good results in terms of hearing gain. </p>

Comparison of Reinforcement Cartilage Graft and Temporalis Fascia Graft in Type 1 Tympanoplasty

Background: Chronic otitis media (COM) is the long-standing infection of a part or whole of middle ear cleft characterized by ear discharge and perforation. It is the commonest ear problem in adult and children. Most common presenting symptoms are ear discharge, mild to severe hearing loss, sometimes tinnitus even vertigo. Treatment of COM is mainly operative. Inactive mucosal variety of COM presents with the perforation in tympanic membrane with non-inflamed middle ear mucosa. The treatment of inactive mucosal variety of COM is Type 1tympanoplasty. It can be done by conventional temporalis fascia or cartilage graft. Both have some merits and demerits. Objective: To compare the the outcomes between reinforcement cartilage graft and temporalis fascia graft in type -1 tympanoplasty. Methods: 86 (43 patients in each group) patients with COM (inactive mucosal) who were admitted in the department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka from January 2018 to June 2019, and had fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria were selected for the study. History, examinations, investigations were done. All patients underwent type 1 tympanoplasty. Prior to surgery relevant investigations were done and informed written consent was taken from all patients. In Group-A reinforcement cartilage tympanoplasty cases and in Group-B temporalis fascia tympanoplasty cases were placed. Post-operative graft uptake rate and hearing gain were compared in two groups Results: The surgical outcomes between reinforcement cartilage tympanoplasty in comparison with temporalis fascia tympanoplasty showed no significant difference of graft uptake rate and hearing gain. Conclusion: Cartilage tympanoplasty has been practised for reconstruction of perforated tympanic membrane in COM since long with variable results. Graft uptake rate in cartilage reinforcement is comparatively better than temporalis fascia graft. So, reinforcement cartilage graft can be adopted as an alternative to temporalis fascia graft in type- I tympanoplasty. Bangladesh J Otorhinolaryngol 2021; 27(2): 104-110

OUTCOMES OF CIRCUMFERENTIAL V/S ANTERIOR TUCKING TYMPANOPLASTY TECHNIQUE IN INACTIVE MUCOSAL CHRONIC OTITIS MEDIA WITH SUBTOTAL PERFORATIONS: A PROSPECTIVE OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

Objective: The objective of the study is to compare circumferential versus anterior tucking underlay tympanoplasty technique. Methods: In this prospective observational study, 100 patients with chronic otitis media (Inactive mucosal type) were included, who were randomly allocated in two groups; Group I which comprised of 50 patients in which tympanoplasty with anterior tucking was done, and Group II comprised of 50 patients in which circumferential flap tympanoplasty was done. Improvement in the hearing gain and graft uptake success rate was compared. Results: The mean air-bone gap (ABG) changed from 28.74 dB to 11.52 dB after anterior tucking with a mean change of 17.22 dB and this change was found to be statistically significant (p<0.001). Similarly, the mean ABG changed from 28.92 dB to 11.86 dB after a circumferential flap with a mean change of 17.06 dB and this change was also found to be statistically significant (p<0.001). There was a slightly better improvement (17.22 dB) in the anterior tucking group as compared to the circumferential flap (17.06 dB). This difference was, however, not found to be statistically significant (p=0.830). Three-month graft uptake rate in the anterior tucking group was found 92% and in the circumferential group was 94%. (p>0.05). Conclusions: Our study concluded that both techniques have almost the same results with good graft uptake. Results of hearing improvements in both techniques were also comparable.

To compare the efficacy of Titanium versus Teflon piston on hearing outcome in terms of Air conduction gain and Air Bone Gap closure in LASER Stapedotomy – A retrospective study

Aim: To determine the efficacy of Titanium versus Teflon piston on hearing outcome in terms of Air Conduction Threshold (ACT) gain and Air Bone Gap (ABG) closure in patients undergoing LASER Stapedotomy. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at the department of ENT and Head and Neck Surgery, AIIMS Patna. 40 patients underwent LASER stapedotomy. Both Teflon (0.4mm and 0.6mm D, Grace Medical Devices) and Titanium (0.4mm D, Kurz Medical Devices) pistons were inserted randomly. Crimping of titanium Kurz piston was not required due to its unique design which fits on to the incus long process like a clip whereas all the Teflon pistons required crimping.Titanium (Kurz Medical Devices) pistons are costlier in comparison to Teflon (Grace Medical Devices) pistons. Preoperative and 3 monthly postoperative Pure Tone Audiograms (PTA) wereobtained. ACT (Air conduction threshold) gain and ABG (Air Bone Gap) closure were measured.Data was analyzed with IBM SPSS Statistics software Version 20. Descriptive analysis,paired and unpaired t-tests were applied. P-value of <0.05 at 95% confidence levels was considered statistically significant. Results: 40 patients (M: F: 3:7) underwent LASER stapedotomy.Titanium piston was utilized in 11and Teflon in 29 patients. Patients with titanium piston experienced a mean ACT gain of 21.51±05.42dBand mean ABG closure of 12.27±05.18 dB. Those with Teflon piston gained a meanACT gain of 18.54±04.43 dB and mean ABG closure of11.96±06.12 dB.Both groups experienced statistically significant hearing gain (p <0.05).Both groups were however comparable and the difference between these parameters was statistically insignificant (p>0.05).Conclusion: Both titanium and Teflon pistons are equally efficacious in improving postoperative hearing gain in LASER stapedotomy patients in terms of ACT gain and ABG closure. Titanium Kurz pistons do not require crimping making it easier to use in comparison to the Teflon pistons which needs to be crimped every time though cost may be a limiting factor in the usage of Titanium pistons.Both types of pistons can be satisfactorily employed in this surgical procedure if we consider the hearing gain post operatively. Study design: A retrospective observational study Keywords: Otosclerosis, Teflon, Titanium, Air Conduction Threshold (ACT), Air Bone Gap (ABG) closure

A Comparative Study between the Efficacy of Intratympanic Steroid Injection and Conventional Medical Treatment in Resistant Cases of Otitis Media with Effusion

Introduction Otitis media with effusion (OME) is a multifactorial disease and the treatment options for it are limited and controversial. The aim of the present study was to compare the efficacy of intratympanic steroid injection and conventional medical treatment in resistant cases of OME with hearing loss. Materials and Methods A comparative study was conducted among 20 patients of OME with hearing loss, resistant to conventional medical treatment between December 2019 to November 2020. ‘Intratympanic dexamethasone injection’ (ITDI) was given every week for 3 consecutive weeks to one group and the other group continued to receive medical treatment. Hearing was assessed by performing pure tone audiogram before every ITDI and also at 12 weeks follow up after completion of treatment. Results Hearing improvement was found to be better in the group which received ITDI (Mean AC-PTA hearing gain = 22.88 dB) than the group where conventional medical treatment was continued (Mean AC-PTA hearing gain = 6.83 dB). Conclusion Intratympanic dexamethasone injection has significantly better outcome in term of improvement of hearing loss in resistant cases of OME than conventional medical management, and is an effective and safe therapy.

Safety and Efficacy of Implantation of the Bonebridge Active Transcutaneous Bone-Conduction Device Using Implant Lifts

Background Implant lifts were recently introduced to facilitate implantation of the Bonebridge and to reduce the risk of uncovering the sigmoid sinus and/or dura. Purpose The current study analyzed medical, technical, and audiological outcomes of implantation with the Bonebridge implant using lifts. Research Design This was a retrospective study on all consecutive patients implanted with a bone-conduction hearing implant at a tertiary medical referral center between March 2012 and October 2018. Outcome measures were complications, explantations, and revisions and the mean time of implant use. Audiological results were assessed as well. Outcomes were evaluated for devices implanted with BCI Lifts and compared with those implanted without lifts. Results In the study period, 13 out of a total of 54 implantations were conducted using one or two 1- to 4-mm BCI Lifts. During the follow-up period, two complications occurred and both in patients implanted without lifts (2/41; 4.9%). All patients in the lifts group were using the implant at the end of observation period. No statistically significant difference was observed in functional hearing gain or word-recognition improvement at 65 dB between two groups. Conclusions The use of BCI Lifts in Bonebridge implantations was not associated with adverse events during the observation period. The clinical follow-up revealed no complications in implantations requiring lifts. Furthermore, the functional hearing gain and the word-recognition improvement did not differ from those of devices implanted without lifts. Data indicate safety and efficacy for Bonebridge implantations using lifts.

Bilateral cochlear implantation in a patient with osteopathia striata voorhoeve and cranial sclerosis

Objective: Osteopathia Striata with Cranial Sclerosis (OS-CS) is a rare form of X-linked dominant sclerosing bone dysplasia. The estimated prevalence of OS-CS is less than 1 in 1,000,000 in the general population with a little over 100 reported cases so far. Up to half of the patients suffer from hearing loss. Hearing loss is usually conductive rather than mixed or sensorineural in patients with OS-CS sclerosis. Herein, we report our experience with a patient who although initially had a conductive hearing loss, later developed sensorineural hearing loss on both sides and was treated with bilateral cochlear implantation. Patient: Thirteen-year-old female patient suffering from Osteopathia striata with cranial sclerosis and functional deafness in the left ear and a high-grade sensorineural hearing loss in the right ear. Intervention: Bilateral cochlear implantation Main outcome measures: Postoperative hearing gain, clinical outcome, audiological examination. Results: The patient showed good hearing gain of 30 dB on the left side and between 30 dB and 40 dB on the right side. Conclusions: Despite the cranial sclerosis, cochlear implantation is a viable option in improving life quality of patients with Osteopathia striata. Nevertheless, it should be noted that in such cases, there is a possibility of progressive sclerosis leading to further narrowing of the internal auditory canal or even complete closure thereby damaging the auditory nerve irreversibly. Keywords: Purple urine bag syndrome (PUBS); purple discolouration; urinary tract infection (UTI); long-term catheterization.

The Clinical Value of Periventricular White Matter Hyperintensity on MRI in Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Objectives: To assess the clinical value of periventricular white matter hyperintensity (PWMH) found on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL). Methods: In this prospective study, 115 patients who were diagnosed with SSNHL aged between 55 and 75 years were analyzed. All subjects underwent brain MRI and were divided into a PWMH and control groups, depending on the presence of PWMH on MRI. PWMH was subdivided into 3 groups according to severity. Pure-tone average results and hearing gain were compared between the 2 groups before treatment and 2 months after treatment. Hearing improvement was assessed using Sigel’s criteria. Results: A total of 106 patients (43 in the PWMH group and 63 in the control group) finally completed the 2-month follow-up. Average hearing gain in the PWMH group was significantly higher than in the control group (34.8 ± 20.3 and 25.9 ± 20.3, respectively, P = .029). PWMH score 1 showed significantly better hearing levels and hearing gain compared to PWMH score 3 and the control group. Multivariate analysis revealed that younger age, better initial hearing level, and the presence of PVWM score 1 were associated with good recovery. Conclusions: The presence of PWMH score 1 on brain MRI in patients with SSNHL was associated with better treatment response and was a good prognostic factor in a multivariate analysis while the hearing recovery in more severe PWMH (scores 2, 3) was not different from the control group.