Correlation of intraoperative middle ear status and hearing results in single-stage canal wall down tympanomastoidectomy with PORP—a prospective study

Background Mastoidectomy is one of the common surgical procedures performed by the otologist. It is commonly done for cholesteatomatous chronic otitis media (CCOM) and can be performed as either canal wall up or down techniques. Most of the CCOM is associated with ossicular erosions which require ossicular chain reconstruction (OCR) which can be done either in one stage or multiple stages. A multitude of factors affects postoperative OCR results with tympanomastoidectomy. Among various factors, the status of the tympanic membrane and middle ear mucosa is quite essential. To date, there are no randomized or prospective studies assessing the integrity of pars tensa and status of the middle ear mucosa in hearing outcomes in single-stage tympanomastoidectomy using partial ossicular replacement prosthesis (PORP) in the literature. Therefore, this study is performed to correlate the integrity of pars tensa and middle ear mucosa condition with postoperative hearing results of single-stage canal wall down (CWD) tympanomastoidectomy with PORP. Results Forty-two patients with cholesteatomatous chronic otitis media underwent single-stage canal wall down mastoidectomy (CWD) and partial ossicular replacement prosthesis (PORP) placement. The statistical analysis was done to compare the results of postoperative hearing with the intraoperative integrity of pars tensa and middle ear mucosa status. The mean pre- and postoperative air-bone gaps (ABGs) of all cases were 23.9 dB and 21 dB, respectively, with no statistically significant difference. In the pars tensa intact group, the mean pre- and postoperative ABGs were 21.5 dB and 18.5 dB, respectively, and in the pars tensa not intact group, the mean pre- and postoperative ABGs were 25.7 dB and 22.8 dB, respectively, and both groups had statistically insignificant difference. The pre- and postoperative ABGs in the healthy middle ear mucosa group were 20.7 dB and 19 dB, respectively. Similarly, the pre- and postoperative ABGs in non-healthy middle ear mucosa were 24.4 dB and 21.2 dB, respectively. The differences were not statistically significant in both groups. Conclusion There was a statistically significant improvement in postoperative air conduction threshold (ACT) in all cases. The integrity of pars tensa and middle ear mucosa status did not affect the postoperative hearing outcome in single-stage CWD tympanomastoidecomty using PORP.

An Analytical Study of the Factors Affecting Hearing Improvement after Ossiculoplasty – A Retrospective Study, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh

BACKGROUND Otologists always yearn to improve the hearing outcome of their patients with chronic suppurative otitis media. There are different options for ossiculoplasty to choose from, depending on the extent of disease, condition of ossicular chain and availability of implant material and there has always been a quest to make appropriate decision with a predictable outcome. In this study, we have tried to analyse various factors which can affect hearing outcome after Ossiculoplasty. METHODS A retrospective study was done to study the effect of implant material, condition of ossicular chain and disease in the mastoid on post-operative hearing improvement on 200 patients, who underwent tympanoplasty or tympanomastoidectomy from January 2018 to January 2020, in Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, K.D. Medical College, Mathura. Decision of ossiculoplasty was made based on intra-operative findings. Autograft incus, Teflon TORP (total ossicular replacement prosthesis) and cartilage columella were used based on availability and feasibility. RESULTS Mean improvement in average air-bone gap of 200 patients was found to be 18.57 dB, with autograft incus, it was 19.99 dB, with Teflon TORP (total ossicular replacement prosthesis), 19.53 dB and with cartilage columella 16.73 dB (P = 0.023). Mean hearing improvement was 18.98 dB when handle of malleus was present and 15.59 dB when it was absent (P = 0.023). Mean hearing improvement was 19.42 dB when stapes superstructure was present and 16.92 dB when it was absent (P = 0.016). Even though the hearing outcome was better when mastoid was disease free (19.57 dB) compared to when it was diseased (18.30 dB), the difference was not statistically significant. (P = 0.177) CONCLUSIONS In our study, we found autograft incus to be the best material for ossiculoplasty and presence of handle of malleus and stapes superstructure improved postoperative hearing outcome significantly but involvement of mastoid by disease did not significantly affect the hearing outcome post-operatively. KEYWORDS Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media, Ossiculoplasty, Tympanoplasty, Ossicular Prosthesis, Autograft

Isolated Traumatic Dislocation of the Malleus into the External Auditory Canal

We report a rare case of isolated malleus dislocation into the external auditory canal with lateralized intact tympanic membrane following a head trauma. The patient was a 63-year-old woman who presented at the outpatient department of our institute with hearing loss of 10 years’ duration after a bicycle accident. During physical examination of the patient, total dislocation of the malleus-like bony structure into the external auditory canal on the right side was observed. In the computed tomography scan, an isolated malleus dislocation with intact incus-stapes articulation was identified. The patient was successfully treated with endoscopic exploratory tympanotomy and partial ossicular replacement prosthesis. The isolated malleus dislocation can rarely occur after trauma. A careful diagnostic step through history, physical examination, and temporal bone computed tomography scan are needed to confirm this rare condition.

Is Ossiculoplasty Necessary in Canal Wall Down Mastoidectomy? Comparison of Clinical Outcomes Between Type 0 Tympanoplasty and Ossiculoplasty

Background and Objectives: To assess whether the audiological and clinical outcomes of type 0 tympanoplasty (T0) performed using cartilage were comparable with those of ossiculoplasty in patients who underwent canal wall down mastoidectomy (CWDM).Subjects and Methods: This study included patients who had chronic otitis media with cholesteatoma and underwent CWDM with ossiculoplasty involving partial ossicular replacement prosthesis (PORP), total ossicular replacement prosthesis (TORP), or T0. Anatomical success rates and hearing outcomes were analyzed.Results: Seventy-two patients were included in this study; 29 of them underwent CWDM with T0, 27 underwent CWDM with PORP, while 16 underwent CWDM with TORP. The difference in mean improvement in the air-bone gap (ABG) between the groups was not significant. The differences in the rates of ABG closure to ≤10 dB HL (p=0.030) and ≤20 dB HL (p=0.029) were significant. There were significant differences in improvements in the ABG at 3 kHz among the PORP, TORP, and T0 groups.Conclusions: The audiological outcomes of CWDM with ossiculoplasty seemed to be better than those of CWDM with T0 with no significant difference in the incidence of complications following ossiculoplasty and T0.

Comparison of hearing outcome using ossiculoplasty with autologous incus versus titanium prosthesis

<p><strong>Background: </strong>The aim of the study is to compare the efficacy of autologous incus versus allogenic titanium prosthesis in terms of anatomical results, hearing gain after surgery, operative course and complications.</p><p><strong>Methods:</strong> This is a prospective interventional study of 20 patients out of which 10 underwent autologus incus and 10 underwent titanium prosthesis ossiculoplasties performed between April 2018 To April 2019 in Government Kilpauk medical college and hospital, Chennai after ethical clearance. The postoperative improvement of mean air-bone gap and air conduction over same frequencies between the two groups were studied. A improvement in pure tone average more than 10 dB was considered successful.</p><p><strong>Results:</strong> In current study, 10 patients underwent ossiculoplasties using titanium ossicular replacement prosthesis and 10 patients underwent ossiculoplasties using autologous incus. 5 of the patients in each group underwent canal wall up and 5 underwent canal wall down procedure. The average ABG closure was 9.30 dB in incus group and 15.22 dB in titanium group.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Titanium ossicular prosthesis ossiculoplasties provide a significant hearing gain and are advantageous because of the easy insertion with pre-sculpted structure yet the cost is a concern. Better results were noted in canal wall up procedures more than canal wall down procedures.</p>

Frequency-Specific Analysis of Hearing Outcomes Associated with Ossiculoplasty Versus Stapedotomy

Objective: Surgery on the ossicular chain may impact its underlying mechanical properties. This study aims to investigate comparative differences in frequency-specific hearing outcomes for ossiculoplasty versus stapedotomy. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted on subjects who underwent ossiculoplasty with partial ossicular replacement prosthesis (PORP) or laser stapedotomy with self-crimping nitinol/fluoroplastic piston, and achieved closure of postoperative pure tone average air-bone gap (PTA-ABG) ≤ 15 dB. 45 PORP and 38 stapedotomy cases were included, with mean length of follow-up of 7.6 months. Results: The mean change in PTA-ABG was similar for the 2 procedures (−17.9 dB vs −18.1 dB, P = .98). Postoperative ABG closure for stapedotomy was superior at 1000 Hz (8.9 dB vs 13.9 dB, P = .0003) and 4000 Hz (11.8 dB vs 18.0 dB, P = .0073). Both procedures also had improved postoperative bone conduction (BC) thresholds at nearly all frequencies, but there was no statistical difference in the change in BC at any particular frequency between the 2 procedures. Conclusion: Both procedures achieved a similar mean change in PTA-ABG. Stapedotomy was superior to PORP at ABG closure at 1000 Hz and at 4000 Hz, with 1000 Hz the most discrepant. The exact mechanism responsible for these changes is unclear, but the specific frequencies affected suggest that differences in each procedure’s respective impact on the native resonant frequency and mass load of the system could be implicated.