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Cochlear implantation became a valid hearing rehabilitation option in common cavity deformity. This study aimed to assess the audiological and speech outcomes of cochlear implantation in common cavity deformity patients and to address the surgical aspect used in this population.A comprehensive systematic literature review based on preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guideline from database inception through April 2020. Eighteen published articles including 138 patients with common cavity deformity met the inclusion criteria. These articles studied the surgical techniques and the audiological outcomes of cochlear implantation in patients with common cavity deformity in English language.Trans-mastoid labyrinthotomy was the common surgical approach in these patients. The average speech intelligibility rating and categories of auditory performance scores in common cavity deformity were lower than in normal cochlea subjects (p 0.05), and non-significant (p 0.05) compared with other types of inner ear malformations.Patients with common cavity deformity who underwent cochlear implantation showed a beneficial audiological and speech outcome. However, their performance is highly variable. Therefore, pre-operative counseling of the parents is necessary. The surgical approaches should be individualized according to clinical, radiological, and surgical findings.

Cochlear nerve deficiency is one of the known causes of congenital sensorineural hearing loss. Management of hearing loss in children with cochlear nerve deficiency poses a multidimensional challenge. The absent or hypoplastic cochlear nerve may prevent electrical stimulation from reaching the brainstem and the auditory cortex. A deficient cochlear nerve can be associated with other inner ear malformations, which may diminish the success of cochlear implantation in those children. Promising results in adults after auditory brainstem implantation led to the expansion of candidacy to include the pediatric populations who were contraindicated for CIs. To review the outcomes of cochlear implantation versus that of auditory brainstem implantation in children with various conditions of the auditory nerve. This retrospective chart review study comprised two pediatric groups. The first group consisted of seven ABI recipients with cochlear nerve aplasia and the second group consisted of another seven children with cochlear nerve deficiencies who underwent CI surgery. The participants’ auditory skills and speech outcomes were assessed using different tests selected from the Evaluation of Auditory Responses to Speech (EARS) test battery. There were some individual variations in outcomes depending on the status of the auditory nerve. The mean CAP score of the ABI group was 2.87, while the mean SIR score was 0.62. On the other hand, the mean CAP score of the CI group was 1.29, while the mean SIR score was 0.42. Our results are in good agreement with the reported auditory perception and speech and language development outcomes of pediatric auditory brainstem implantation. We added to the growing body of literature on the importance of verifying and identifying the status of the cochlear nerve in the decision-making process of the surgical management of those pediatric groups.

The effect of insertion depth and position of cochlear implant (CI) electrode arrays on speech perception remains unclear. This study aimed to determine the relationship between cochlear coverage and speech performance in children with prelingual hearing loss with CI. Pure tone audiometry (PTA) and speech audiometry, including speech reception threshold (SRT) using spondee words and speech discrimination score (SDS) using phonetically balanced monosyllabic words, were tested. The Categories of Auditory Performance (CAP) and Speech Intelligibility Rating (SIR) scales were also used. Thirty-one ears were implanted with the FLEX 28 electrode array, and 54 with the FORM 24 were included in the current study. For the studied ear, the mean cochlear duct length was 30.82 ± 2.24 mm; the mean cochlear coverage was 82.78 ± 7.49%. Cochlear coverage was a significant negative predictor for the mean pure tone threshold across frequecnies of 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz (PTA4) (p = 0.019). Cochlear coverage was a significant positive predictor of SDS (p = 0.009). In children with cochlear coverage ≥ 82.78%, SDS was significantly better than in those with coverage < 82.78% (p = 0.04). Cochlear coverage was not a significant predictor of the SRT, CAP, or SIR. In conclusion, the cochlear coverage of the CI electrode array has an impact on the users’ SDS. Further long-term studies with larger sample sizes should be conducted to address the most critical factors affecting CI recipients’ outcomes.

To assess the effect of triphasic pulse pattern stimulation strategy on the audiological performance of cochlear implant recipients with unintended facial nerve stimulation (FNS), and to compare the audiological and speech outcomes before and after switching to triphasic stimulation. A retrospective study of patients who have changed their fitting maps from biphasic to triphasic pulse pattern stimulation because of FNS after cochlear implantation (CI). All identified patients with FNS after CI from 2017 to 2019 were included in this study. The medical records of 11 patients (16 ears) were queried for demographic and radiological data, pure tone audiometry, speech reception thresholds, speech discrimination score at 65 dB, maximum comfortable levels, thresholds, and dynamic range. Then, these parameters were compared in the two conditions, biphasic and triphasic. Using triphasic pulse stimulation only or combined with switch-off of few channels, complete resolution of FNS was achieved. Triphasic pulse pattern stimulation was associated with better speech discrimination scores (75.25 ± 26.13%) compared to the biphasic pulse (58.25 ± 26.13%). This triphasic strategy also showed higher maximum comfortable levels (36.62 ± 1.63 qu) than biphasic strategy (31.58 ± 2.5 qu). Moreover, the dynamic range was wider using triphasic pulse strategy. In general, the triphasic pulse pattern resulted in successful suppression of facial nerve stimulation with suitable maximum comfortable levels and better speech discrimination. Triphasic pulse pattern stimulation is an appropriate tool in controlling FNS following cochlear implantation with wider dynamic range. We recommend that all patients with facial nerve stimulation after CI surgery be switched to a triphasic pulse program prior to considering further surgery.

Pneumocephalus is usually induced by trauma, infections, tumors of the skull base, and surgical interventions. Spontaneous pneumocephalus occurs due to a defect in the temporal bone with no obvious cause. Few cases have been reported with spontaneous otogenic pneumocephalus. However, delayed postoperative pneumocephalus is rarely reported in the literature. Here, we present a case of otogenic pneumocephalus through Eustachian tube (ET) preceded by nose blowing 10 days after surgical treatment of meningoencephalocele of the right middle ear (ME) cleft and reconstruction of tegmen and dural defects. Pneumocephalus was provoked by decreased intracranial pressure (ICP) secondary to placement of lumbar drain, which caused direct communication between unsutured dural defect and the defective posterior wall of external auditory canal skin. A revision surgery of combined transmastoid/middle cranial fossa approach was performed for intracranial decompression followed by appropriate closure by suturing the dura, obliterating the ET and ME.

This retrospective study completed at a tertiary care center aimed to assess the monothermal caloric test (MCT) as a screening test, using the bithermal caloric test (BCT) as a reference. Additionally, it attempts to measure the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of a fixed inter-auricular difference (IAD) value for both cold and warm stimuli using water irrigation. Medical records of 259 patients referred for vestibular symptoms who underwent BCT with water irrigation were reviewed. Patients with bilateral vestibular weakness and caloric tests using air irrigation were excluded. BCT showed 40.9% unilateral weakness. Two formulas were used to determine the monothermal caloric asymmetry (MCA-1 and MCA-2). The measurement of agreement Kappa between the two formulas in comparison with BCT revealed moderate agreement at 0.54 and 0.53 for hot and cold stimulation, respectively. The monothermal warm stimulating test (MWST) using MCA-2 showed better results, with a sensitivity of 80%, specificity of 91%, PPV of 83.1%, and NPV of 89.2%. Thirty-four patients had horizontal spontaneous nystagmus (HSN) with a mean velocity of 2.25°/s. These patients showed better sensitivity but lower specificity after adjustment of HSN using the MCA-2 formula at warm temperatures. Therefore, they should complete the caloric test with cold irrigation to perform the BCT. MCT is efficient as a screening test if the warm stimulus is used with the MCA-2 formula fixed at 25%. If present, HSNs should be adjusted. Negative IAD (normal) in the absence or presence of adjusted HSN or slow-phase eye velocity ≤ 6°/s at each right and left warm stimulation should be accomplished by the BCT.

Objectives To study the changes in the coiled configuration of electrode excess lead in the mastoid cavity in the cochlear implant recipients over time. Methods Post-operative CT scans at two different appointments of fourteen patients with cochlear implants (CI) were retrospectively analyzed using a DICOM viewer software (3D-slicer). Mastoid thickness (MT) was measured in the oblique coronal plane from the round window (RW) entrance to the mastoid edge and inter-cochlear distance (ICD) was measured in the axial plane at the fundus level between two ears. 3D segmentation of the entire inner ear of both sides and coiled electrode excess lead was performed to visually compare the changes in coiled configuration between the two CT scan time points. Result MT and ICD increased logarithmically with the patient’s age, as has been measured from both the 1st and the 2nd CT scans and a weak linear correlation between MT and ICD was observed. Growth in MT and ICT measured between the time of 1st and 2nd CT scans showed a strong linear correlation. In eight cases, changes in the electrode excess lead have been observed in the 2nd CT scan, either a change in the coiling configuration of electrode excess lead or shifted laterally toward the mastoid edge. The ICD growth between the 1st and the 2nd CT scans was >2 mm in only seven cases and all of them were children. All other six cases had no observed changes in the coiled electrode lead. In addition, the mastoid growth between the 1st and the 2nd CT scan was >2.5 mm in only 4 cases. Conclusion Coiled configuration of electrode excess lead could change when the MT and ICD increased over time.

To evaluate the safety, speech performance in noise and subjective satisfaction of patients with congenital aural atresia (CAA) implanted with the active middle ear implant.This retrospective study included 13 patients (15 ears) implanted with middle ear implants with different methods of floating mass transducer attachment. In 6 ears, the floating mass transducer (FMT) was coupled with the short process of incus; in 8 ears, a clip coupler was used; and in one ear, a round window coupler was used. Patients were assessed preoperatively, and at one, three, and six months postoperatively. The assessment included Pure Tone Average (PTA4), Speech Reception Threshold (SRT) and Speech Discrimination Score (SDS). The Speech Spatial and Qualities of Hearing scale (SSQ12) was also used to evaluate levels of satisfaction.The mean aided PTA4 using Vibrant Sound Bridge (VSB) was 26.44 4.03 dB HL compared to 61.88 ±1.53 dB HL unaided. The SDS improved significantly (p = 0.002) from 51% (± 9.17%) to 94.60% (± 4.43%). Furthermore, there was a significant improvement in SDS in noise (p = 0.008) and SSQ12 responses (p0.0001).Patients with hearing loss due to CAA can substantially benefit from VSB, with highly satisfactory subjective results and a negligible rate of complications.Performance del parlato e grado di soddisfazione soggettiva del paziente affetto da atresia auricolare congenita e sottoposto a impianto dell’orecchio medio.Valutare la sicurezza, la performance del parlato in ambiente rumoroso ed il grado di soddisfazione soggettiva dei pazienti affetti da atresia auricolare congenita (CAA) e sottoposti ad impianto dell’orecchio medio.È stato condotto uno studio retrospettivo su 13 pazienti (15 orecchie) a cui sono stati posizionati degli impianti a livello dell’orecchio medio con diversi metodi di fissaggio del trasduttore di massa flottante. In 6 orecchie, l’FMT è stato abbinato al processo dell’incudine; in 8 orecchie è stato utilizzato l’accoppiatore di clip; e in un orecchio è stato utilizzato l’accoppiatore alla finestra rotonda. I pazienti sono stati valutati prima dell’intervento e a uno, tre e sei mesi dopo l’intervento. La valutazione ha compreso il Pure Tone Avarage (PTA4), la soglia di percezione del parlato (SRT) e il punteggio di discriminazione vocale (SDS). Per valutare i livelli di soddisfazione è stata utilizzata anche la scala Speech Spatial and Quality of Hearing (SSQ12).Il PTA4 medio utilizzando Vibrant Sound Bridge (VSB) era di 26,44 ± 4,03 dB HL rispetto a 61,88 ± 1,53 dB HL senza aiuto. L’SDS è migliorato significativamente (p = 0,002) dal 51% (± 19,17%) al 94,60% (±4,43%). Inoltre, c’è stato un miglioramento significativo dell’SDS nel rumore (p = 0,008) e delle risposte SSQ12 (p0,0001).I pazienti con ipoacusia dovuta a CAA possono beneficiare sostanzialmente di VSB, con risultati soggettivi altamente soddisfacenti e un tasso trascurabile di complicanze.

To assess the evolution of electrode impedance after the early fitting of audio processors (activation after one-day) and classical fitting (activation after one-month) over an up-to-one year after cochlear implant (CI) surgery.A retrospective cohort study on Fifty-two CI recipients divided into two groups. The study group included 24 recipients (40 ears) who underwent early fitting, whereas the control group contained 28 recipients (40 ears) who underwent classical fitting. The electrode impedance was recorded during the surgery, switch-on session and at one, three, six, and twelve-months after the surgery.In the study group, electrode impedance values obtained intraoperatively and at switch-on and one, three, six, and twelve-months were 4.89, 3.69, 6.52, 6.24, 6.05, and 5.81 KΩ, respectively, and only the switch-on and one-month values were significantly different (p 0.0001). In the control group, electrode impedance values obtained intraoperatively and at switch-on and one, three, six, and twelve-months were 4.71, 7.19, 6.40, 6.05, and 5.73 KΩ, respectively. Thus, the electrode impedance value at switch-on was 52.65% (p 0.001) greater than it intraoperatively. For both groups, the electrode impedance value at twelve-months was significantly higher than the respective intraoperative values (study group: 18.6% higher, P = 0.04; control group: 21.65% higher, P = 0.0001).Electrode impedance was significantly lower in the study group compared to the control group until one month after the surgery. However, the electrode impedance at twelve-months after the CI was similar in both groups.

To assess the effect of triphasic pulse pattern stimulation strategy on the audiological performance of cochlear implant recipients with unintended facial nerve stimulation (FNS), and to compare the audiological and speech outcomes before and after switching to triphasic stimulation.A retrospective study of patients who have changed their fitting maps from biphasic to triphasic pulse pattern stimulation because of FNS after cochlear implantation (CI). All identified patients with FNS after CI from 2017 to 2019 were included in this study. The medical records of 11 patients (16 ears) were queried for demographic and radiological data, pure tone audiometry, speech reception thresholds, speech discrimination score at 65 dB, maximum comfortable levels, thresholds, and dynamic range. Then, these parameters were compared in the two conditions, biphasic and triphasic.Using triphasic pulse stimulation only or combined with switch-off of few channels, complete resolution of FNS was achieved. Triphasic pulse pattern stimulation was associated with better speech discrimination scores (75.25 ± 26.13%) compared to the biphasic pulse (58.25 ± 26.13%). This triphasic strategy also showed higher maximum comfortable levels (36.62 ± 1.63 qu) than biphasic strategy (31.58 ± 2.5 qu). Moreover, the dynamic range was wider using triphasic pulse strategy. In general, the triphasic pulse pattern resulted in successful suppression of facial nerve stimulation with suitable maximum comfortable levels and better speech discrimination.Triphasic pulse pattern stimulation is an appropriate tool in controlling FNS following cochlear implantation with wider dynamic range. We recommend that all patients with facial nerve stimulation after CI surgery be switched to a triphasic pulse program prior to considering further surgery.

(1) To assess the correlation between preoperative high-resolution CT (HRCT) imaging measurement from the long process of the incus to the footplate and the length of intraoperative selected prosthesis. (2) To determine if HRCT has a predictive value of prolapsed facial nerve during stapedotomy. We evaluated in our tertiary care center, in a retrospective case series, 94 patients undergoing primary stapedotomy. Preoperative temporal bone HRCT scans were reformatted in the plane of the stapes to measure on the same section the distance between the long process of the incus and the footplate. Measurement was performed by otolaryngology resident and neurotologist. We analyze the interobserver correlation and the mean length measured on the HRCT to the selected prosthesis size intraoperatively. Mean HRCT measurement of the incus long process/footplate distance assessed by the otolaryngology resident and neurotologist was 4.34 and 4.38 mm, respectively. Interobserver correlation was statistically significant [intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of 0.679 (p

Background Datalogging feature of the cochlear implant audio processor has been utilized to calculate the average daily wearing hours for cochlear implant devices by patients. Objectives To assess the relationship between the time use of cochlear implant audio processor and speech development as well as to identify the lowest acceptable duration of audio processor use to achieve an acceptable language development. Methods A retrospective study design including prelingual thirty-four ears (24 patients) who received the same electrode array of cochlear implant with 2 years follow up. The audiological and speech evaluations were done for all patients postoperatively and the last postoperative follow-up visit was used for analysis in this study. Results The average daily use of the audio processor was 11.3 ± 2.7 h per day. The pure tone average was 30.55 ± 4.64 dB whereas the speech reception threshold was 30.88 ± 6.12 dB. The average speech discrimination score at 65 dB was 68.59 ± 16.80%. A significant positive correlation (r = 0.54, p value = 0.0009) was found between the daily use of the audio processor and the speech discrimination score. The lowest wearing time needed to have more than 60% of the speech discrimination score was 8.3 h/day. Conclusion The present study revealed a positive correlation between the daily duration of the audio processor usage and speech performance. Moreover, we found that pediatric patients need to use their cochlear implant device for at least 8.3 h/day to achieve acceptable language development.

Objective Rhinoliquorrhea is defined as a cerebrospinal fluid leakage from the nose. Our objective in this study is to determine the reduction of rhinoliquorrhea rates by Eustachian tube (ET) obliteration in the context of a translabyrinthine approach performed following vestibular schwannoma (VS) excision. Materials and methods This is a prospective study achieved in a tertiary-care center where the chart review revealed 94 VS operated by the translabyrinthine approach between 2009 and 2015. There were 40 males and 54 females aged from 28-76 years. The only exclusion criterion was a previous history of cranial surgery. ET obliteration was systematically executed when the petrous apex pneumatization level was at least 2 of 4. Our main outcome measure was the development of rhinoliquorrhea. Results Eighty-eight patients underwent ET obliteration and were followed for an average of 2.6±1.2 years. Rhinoliquorrhea was reported in 1.14% of the patients having had an ET obliteration. When compared to our previous sample of patients operated with a translabyrinthine approach, it represents a reduction of 84%. Conclusion Obliteration of the ET is a fast and simple procedure that reduces the rate of rhinoliquorrhea. We therefore recommend its use, specifically in cases of petrous apex pneumatization levels 2-4.

Background: Hyaluronic acid fat graft myringoplasty (HAFGM) is an office-based technique for tympanic membrane perforation (TMP) treatment. It is simple, inexpensive, and performed under local anesthesia at the outpatient office department. We aimed to compare HAFGM technique to a recently described topical use of autologous platelet rich plasma myringoplasty (PRPM) in the repair of TMP. We also aimed to assess the hearing level improvement postoperatively. Methods: We conducted a prospective study in an adult tertiary care center between January 2015 and January 2016. Adult patients presenting with simple TMP were operated randomly using either HAFGM or PRPM under local anesthesia in an office-based setting. Perforations were classified into four grades. Success was considered when complete closure is achieved. Audiometric parameters were evaluated pre- and postoperatively. Results: We included 27 patients, of whom 16 were operated with HAFGM and 11 were operated with PRPM. Complete closure was achieved in 81.2% and 18.1%, respectively. Postoperatively, no worsening of bone conduction threshold was noted. The study was abandoned due to the low success rate in patients with PRPM. The pure tone audiometry was improved postoperatively in patients with closed tympanic membrane. Conclusions: The study was aborted because of the unsatisfactory obtained results using PRPM. It confirms once again the beneficial effect of hyaluronic acid in the healing process when added to fat graft myringoplasty. Furthermore, it requires no hospitalization. J Clin Med Res. 2017;9(1):30-34 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jocmr2800w

OBJECTIVE 1) To determine if unexplained ear fullness might be a symptom of endolymphatic hydrops (EH) by using Electrocochleography (ECochG) SP/AP area and amplitude ratios. 2) To assess if individuals with unexplained ear fullness without vertigo differ significantly from individuals with ear fullness due to Meniere's disease (MD). MATERIALS AND METHODS In a case-control study in our tertiary care center, we evaluated 62 ears across 49 patients, including 18 normal healthy ears across 12 control patients, 26 ears with unexplained ear fullness across 20 patients (6 had bilateral symptoms of ear fullness), and 18 ears with definite MD across 17 patients (1 bilateral disease). Outcome measures were SP/AP amplitude and area ratio, hearing threshold, and air-bone gap. RESULTS The analysis of auditory thresholds revealed a significant group effect for air conduction [F(2,50)=49.627; p

Video head impulse test (vHIT) is a new testing which able to identify the overt and covert saccades and study the gain of vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) of each semicircular canal. The aim of this study is to review the clinical use of vHIT in patients with vestibular disorders in different diseases. PubMed and Cochrane databases were searched for all articles that defined vHIT, compared vHIT with another clinical test, and studied the efficacy of vHIT as diagnostic tools with vestibular disease. 37 articles about vHIT were reviewed. All articles studied the vHIT in English and French languages up to May 2015 were included in the review. Editorial articles or short comments, conference abstracts, animal studies, and language restriction were excluded from the review. Four systems were used in the literature to do the vHIT. vHIT is physiological quick test, which studied the VOR at high frequency of each semicircular canal by calculating the duration ratio between the head impulse and gaze deviation. vHIT is more sensitive than clinical head impulse test (cHIT), especially in patient with isolated covert saccades. vHIT test is diagnostic of vestibular weakness by gain reduction and the appearance of overt and covert saccades. If the vHIT is normal, then caloric test is mandatory to rule out a peripheral origin of vertigo. It is recommended to test each semicircular canal, as isolated vertical canal weakness was identified in the literature. More investigation would be required to determine the evolution of the VOR gain with the progression of the vestibular disease.