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Objectives: The study's primary objective was to compare the quality of life (QoL) and external auditory canal (EAC) hygiene among patients who underwent bony mastoid obliteration or meatoplasty after canal wall down (CWD) mastoidectomy. Methods: A prospective, observational, controlled cohort study was conducted at our tertiary referral university hospital. Twenty‐eight patients older than 16 years of age with chronic otitis media who underwent CWD mastoidectomy were included. Two cohorts were followed: CWD mastoidectomy followed by mastoid obliteration (Group 1, n = 14) and CWD mastoidectomy followed by meatoplasty (Group 2, n = 14). The main outcome measures of total COMBI score (postoperative 6‐month QoL) and EAC hygiene were compared between the groups. Results: The average age of the patients was 36.14 (12. 22) years; 15 (53.6%) were female and 13 (46.4%) were male. There were no differences in demographic variables, preoperative findings, or COMQ‐12 (preoperative QoL) scores between groups. The average COMBI score of Group 1 (49.0 [8.66]) was not significantly different from Group 2 (46.79 [7.76]) (p =.482). Poor EAC hygiene was observed in eight (57.1%) patients in Group 2 and three (21.4%) patients in Group 1 (p =.06). In Group 1, no resorption of graft material was observed in 10 (71.4%) patients, minor resorption was observed in three (21.4%) patients, and significant resorption was observed in one (7.1%) patient. There were no significant differences in audiological findings between groups (p >.05). Conclusion: There were no significant differences regarding short‐term postoperative QoL, EAC hygiene, or hearing outcomes between patients who underwent bony mastoid obliteration or meatoplasty after CWD mastoidectomy. Level of Evidence: 1b (individual prospective cohort study). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to describe the use of the endoscopic-assisted cochlear implantation in cases with an unsuccessful standard surgical technique because of not achieving adequate exposure to the round window (RW). Three patients with a bilateral profound hearing loss were operated using an endoscopic-assisted cochlear implant procedure at our tertiary university referral center between 2012 and 2014. In all of the patients, a retroauricular "c" shaped incision was performed and a subperiosteal pocket was created. Standard cortical mastoidectomy and posterior tympanotomy were accomplished using a otomicroscope. However, RW and promontory could not be seen using this approach. The tympanomeatal flap was elevated and the middle ear cavity was entered A rigid 0 degree endoscope (2.7 mm wide, 18 cm in length) (Karl Storz company, Tuttlingen, Germany) and a connected HD camera system (Karl Storz Company, Tuttlingen, Germany) were used to expose RW through posterior tympanotomy, and a drill was passed through the external ear canal. The RW niche was removed using a diamond burr under endoscopic view; the endoscope was placed through the external ear canal, and electrodes were transferred through posterior tympanotomy. The electrodes were fully inserted under the endoscopic view in all cases. Endoscopic-assisted cochlear implantation may be a safe alternative surgical technique in cases where surgeons are not able to visualize RW and promontory using a microscope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES: Wideband tympanometry (WBT) measurements show sensitivity to trends in external ear canal/middle ear maturation and changes in middle ear status as a result of different types of dysfunction. This study aims to determine the effects of cochlear implantation (CI) on middle ear status. MATERIALS and METHODS: This is a prospective comparative clinical study that has been done in a tertiary referral center. The patients who underwent unilateral cochlear implantation were included in the study. All the participants were under 18 years of age and had congenital bilateral profound sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). WBT measurements of implanted ears were calculated and compared to those of non-implanted ears (control group) in the same patient group. The differences in these measurements were subjected to statistical analyses. RESULTS: A total of 48 patients (96 ears) who underwent unilateral CI were included in the study. Our study revealed that significant reductions in the average absorbance ratios occurred at all measured frequencies and that the average resonance frequency increased more significantly in the implanted ears compared with those of control group (p<0.001). The difference in the average peak pressure was not significant among two groups. (p=0.211) CONCLUSION: This study shows that the average absorbance ratio decreases and average resonance frequency increases after cochlear implantation. These findings may be related to increased stiffness in middle and inner ear system. Future studies are needed for more detailed information and recommendations on this topic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]