Comparison of the MIPS technique versus linear incision with tissue preservation in osseointegrated implants in the Ponto model®.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The surgery of osseointegrated implants has undergone different modifications over the years with the aim of achieving better results and facilitating the surgical technique. Today the most commonly used technique is the linear incision with tissue preservation and placement of the abutment and implant. The long-term success of this technique has served as the basis for the development of the so-called minimally invasive surgical approach (MIPS). This study compares the short-, medium- and long-term results between the classic linear incision technique and the MIPS technique. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective study was conducted on patients who had an osseointegrated implant placed between February 2016 and February 2020. A total of 59 surgeries were performed, 32 surgeries according to the linear incision technique with tissue preservation and 27 with MIPS technique. Outcomes were evaluated at one week, one month and one year. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were achieved between the 2 groups at one week after surgery. Eighty per cent of the MIPS patients had Holgers grades 0-1 compared to 35% of the linear technique patients (p = 0.001). No statistically significant differences were observed at one month (p = 0.457) and one year (p = 0.228). One case with grade 4 was recorded which resulted in implant extrusion one month after surgery with the MIPS technique. A new osseointegrated implant was placed 2 months after the fall using the same MIPS technique with good results. We were also able to verify that the duration of surgery was much shorter with the MIPS technique and better tolerated in terms of postoperative discomfort by the patient. CONCLUSIONS: In our experience, the MIPS technique is the technique of choice for surgery of osseointegrated Ponto model implants as it is simpler, faster and presents fewer problems in the immediate postoperative period, with similar long-term postoperative results.

Universal neonatal hearing screening and delayed hearing loss or late-developmental hearing loss.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the percentage of children with permanent bilateral postnatal hearing loss in order to study its incidence, related risk factors, diagnosis and treatment. METHODS: Retrospective study to collect data on children diagnosed with hearing loss outside the neonatal period in the Hearing Loss Unit of the Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, from April 2014 to April 2021. RESULTS: 52 cases met the inclusion criteria. The detection rate of congenital hearing loss in the neonatal screening programme in the same study period was 1.5 children per thousand newborns per year, adding postnatal hearing loss results in a rate of infant bilateral hearing loss of 2.7 children per thousand (55.5% and 44.4% respectively). Thirty-five children presented risk factors for hearing loss, of which 23 were at retrocochlear risk. The mean age at referral was 91.9 (18-185) months. Hearing aid fitting was indicated in 44 cases (84.6%). Cochlear implantation was indicated in eight cases (15.4%). DISCUSSION: Although congenital hearing loss accounts for the majority of childhood deafness, postnatal hearing loss has a significant incidence. This may be mainly due to: (1) that hearing impairment may arise in the first years of life, (2) that mild hearing loss as well as hearing loss in severe frequencies are undetectable by neonatal screening in some cases, (3) that some children may have false negative results. CONCLUSION: postnatal hearing loss requires identification of risk factors and long-term follow-up of children with hearing loss, as it needs to be detected and treated early.

Ototoxicity in cancer survivors: Experience and proposal of a surveillance protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Ototoxicity occurs in different percentages in patients after treatment with platinum-based chemotherapy or cranial radiation therapy. The aim of this study was to present our experience in ototoxicity monitoring. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A review was made of the registry of paediatric cancer patients referred to the Children's Hearing Loss Unit from 1999 to 2019. RESULTS: Of the 46 patients referred to this unit, 41 had received platinum as part of their treatment, 17 patients underwent neurosurgery, and 18 patients received cranial radiation therapy. An anamnesis and otoscopy were performed on all of them, and the monitoring was carried out with tone-verbal audiometry and/or distortion products. Hearing loss was observed in eight patients (21.05% of patients referred for audiological follow-up) as a consequence of the treatment. It was impossible to determine the audiological situation in eight patients at the end of treatment. Hearing aid adaption was necessary in two patients. In coordination with Paediatric Oncology, a change from cisplatin to carboplatin due to bilateral grade two ototoxicity was considered appropriate during treatment in one patient. CONCLUSION: Adequate coordination with Paediatric Oncology is essential to carry out active surveillance for ototoxicity and to modify, if possible, the dosage or type of chemotherapy in case hearing is affected. In our experience, and following current recommendations, a pre-treatment assessment is usually performed, as well as monitoring during treatment, at the end of treatment, and annually thereafter due to the risk of a later development of hearing loss.

[Ototoxicity in cancer survivors: experience and proposal of a surveillance protocol]. / Ototoxicidad en pacientes oncológicos: experiencia y propuesta de un protocolo de vigilancia.

INTRODUCTION: Ototoxicity occurs in different percentages in patients after treatment with platinum-based chemotherapy or cranial radiation therapy. The aim of this study was to present experience in ototoxicity monitoring. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A review was made of the registry of paediatric cancer patients referred to the Children's Hearing Loss Unit from 1999 to 2019. RESULTS: Of the 46 patients referred to this unit, 41 had received platinum as part of their treatment, 17 patients underwent neurosurgery, and 18 patients received cranial radiation therapy. An anamnesis and otoscopy were performed on all of them, and the monitoring was carried out with tone-verbal audiometry and/or distortion products. Hearing loss was observed in eight patients (21.05% of patients referred for audiological follow-up) as a consequence of the treatment. It was impossible to determine the audiological situation in eight patients at the end of treatment. Hearing aid adaption was necessary in two patients. In coordination with Paediatric Oncology, a change from cisplatin to carboplatin due to bilateral grade two ototoxicity was considered appropriate during treatment in one patient. CONCLUSION: Adequate coordination with Paediatric Oncology is essential to carry out active surveillance for ototoxicity and to modify, if possible, the dosage or type of chemotherapy in case hearing is affected. In our experience, and following current recommendations, a pre-treatment assessment is usually performed, as well as monitoring during treatment, at the end of treatment, and annually thereafter due to the risk of a later development of hearing loss.

Evaluation of vaccination coverage in cochlear implant patients at a referral hospital in Northern Spain. / Evaluación de las coberturas de vacunación en pacientes con implante coclear de un hospital de referencia del norte de España.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The risk of bacterial meningitis increases in cochlear implant patients. Therefore, pneumococcal, influenza and Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccination is indicated in this group. The aim of this study was to determine compliance with the vaccination calendar in patients implanted in a referral hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with cochlear implant operated between 2005 and 2015 were included. Vaccine coverage for seasonal influenza, Haemophilus influenzae type b and pneumococcal conjugate 13-serotypes and pneumococcal polysaccharide 23-serotypes was evaluated. The sample was divided into 2 age groups (<14 years and≥14 years). A univariate and bivariate analysis was performed. RESULTS: Of the 153 patients studied (28.01% 0-13 years old and 71.9%≥14), only 2 (5.71%) had 100% adherence to the vaccination schedule, while 65.71% had compliance of 50% or less. Overall, vaccination coverage against the sequential pneumococcal pattern was 48.57%. The paediatric population exceeded 90% coverage for the vaccine against Haemophilus influenzae type b and pneumococcal conjugate 13-serotypes while in those over 14 years of age it barely exceeded 50%. Influenza coverage was less than 40%. An inverse correlation was obtained between age and compliance, although not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Vaccination coverage in patients with cochlear implant is lower than expected. Close collaboration between Otolaryngology departments and the Vaccination Units is proposed as the main strategy for improvement.

Comprehensive genomic diagnosis of non-syndromic and syndromic hereditary hearing loss in Spanish patients.

BACKGROUND: Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is the most common sensory impairment. Comprehensive next-generation sequencing (NGS) has become the standard for the etiological diagnosis of early-onset SNHL. However, accurate selection of target genomic regions (gene panel/exome/genome), analytical performance and variant interpretation remain relevant difficulties for its clinical implementation. METHODS: We developed a novel NGS panel with 199 genes associated with non-syndromic and/or syndromic SNHL. We evaluated the analytical sensitivity and specificity of the panel on 1624 known single nucleotide variants (SNVs) and indels on a mixture of genomic DNA from 10 previously characterized lymphoblastoid cell lines, and analyzed 50 Spanish patients with presumed hereditary SNHL not caused by GJB2/GJB6, OTOF nor MT-RNR1 mutations. RESULTS: The analytical sensitivity of the test to detect SNVs and indels on the DNA mixture from the cell lines was > 99.5%, with a specificity > 99.9%. The diagnostic yield on the SNHL patients was 42% (21/50): 47.6% (10/21) with autosomal recessive inheritance pattern (BSND, CDH23, MYO15A, STRC [n = 2], USH2A [n = 3], RDX, SLC26A4); 38.1% (8/21) autosomal dominant (ACTG1 [n = 3; 2 de novo], CHD7, GATA3 [de novo], MITF, P2RX2, SOX10), and 14.3% (3/21) X-linked (COL4A5 [de novo], POU3F4, PRPS1). 46.9% of causative variants (15/32) were not in the databases. 28.6% of genetically diagnosed cases (6/21) had previously undetected syndromes (Barakat, Usher type 2A [n = 3] and Waardenburg [n = 2]). 19% of genetic diagnoses (4/21) were attributable to large deletions/duplications (STRC deletion [n = 2]; partial CDH23 duplication; RDX exon 2 deletion). CONCLUSIONS: In the era of precision medicine, obtaining an etiologic diagnosis of SNHL is imperative. Here, we contribute to show that, with the right methodology, NGS can be transferred to the clinical practice, boosting the yield of SNHL genetic diagnosis to 50-60% (including GJB2/GJB6 alterations), improving diagnostic/prognostic accuracy, refining genetic and reproductive counseling and revealing clinically relevant undiagnosed syndromes.

[Bacterial etiology of acute otitis media in Spain in the post-pneumococcal conjugate vaccine era]. / Etiología bacteriana de la otitis media aguda en España en la era de la vacuna neumocócica conjugada.

INTRODUCTION: Acute otitis media (AOM) is common in children aged <3 years. A pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) (PCV7; Prevenar, Pfizer/Wyeth, USA) has been available in Spain since 2001, which has a coverage rate of 50-60% in children aged <5 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Children aged ≥3 to 36 months with AOM confirmed by an ear-nose-throat specialist were enrolled at seven centers in Spain (February 2009-May 2012) (GSK study identifier: 111425). Middle-ear-fluid samples were collected by tympanocentesis or spontaneous otorrhea and cultured for bacterial identification. Culture-negative samples were further analyzed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: Of 125 confirmed AOM episodes in 124 children, 117 were analyzed (median age: 17 months (range: 3-35); eight AOM episodes were excluded from analyses. Overall, 69% (81/117) episodes were combined culture- and PCR-positive for ≥1 bacterial pathogen; 44% (52/117) and 39% (46/117) were positive for Haemophilus influenzae (Hi) and Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn), respectively. 77 of 117 episodes were cultured for ≥1 bacteria, of which 63 were culture-positive; most commonly Spn (24/77; 31%) and Hi (32/77; 42%). PCR on culture-negative episodes identified 48% Hi- and 55% Spn-positive episodes. The most common Spn serotype was 19F (4/24; 17%) followed by 19A (3/24; 13%); all Hi-positive episodes were non-typeable (NTHi). 81/117 AOM episodes (69%) occurred in children who had received ≥1 pneumococcal vaccine dose. CONCLUSIONS: NTHi and Spn were the main etiological agents for AOM in Spain. Impact of pneumococcal vaccination on AOM requires further evaluation in Spain, after higher vaccination coverage rate is reached.