Evaluation of a New Material From an Allogenic Collagen Scaffold as a Suitable Coupling Option for Round Window Vibroplasty.

INTRODUCTION: In round window vibroplasty the most efficient coupling technique for contact of the floating mass transducer (FMT) to the round window membrane (RWM) is yet to be determined. Various materials placed between the FMT and the RWM have been proposed to enable better stimulation of the cochlea. Collagenous scaffolds derived from decellularized extracellular cartilage matrices as a commercially available biomaterial are already used for other applications in ear surgery. We aimed to examine the coupling properties of collagen scaffolds compared with commonly used other materials (round window soft coupler, porcine perichondrium, and cartilage) as interponate between the FMT and the RWM in vibroplasty. METHODS: A well-established in vitro temporal bone model was used. Volume velocities were measured with collagen scaffold compared with different interponates (round window soft coupler, porcine perichondrium, and cartilage) at 800, 1000, 1250, 1600, 2000, 2500, 3150, and 4000 Hz levels. RESULTS: Statistical analysis revealed no superiority of commonly used materials compared with collagen scaffolds at all tested volume velocities (p > 0.05). DISCUSSION: We could demonstrate that collagenous scaffolds of decellularized extracellular cartilage matrices have similar vibrational properties as conventional coupling materials of the FMT to the RWM in vibroplasty. Therefore, as a commercially available new material they display a suitable coupling option for round window vibroplasty.

[Value of sialendoscopy in German ENT-hospitals in 2016]. / Stellenwert der Sialendoskopie an deutschen HNO-Kliniken im Jahr 2016.

OBJECTIVE: In 2009 a nationwide survey revealed that only 24 % of the German ENT-hospitals performed sialendoscopy. In 2016 the survey was repeated to reevaluate the actual ranking of sialendoscopy in Germany. MATERIAL UND METHODS: Again, the same questionnaire as in 2009 was sent to all German ENT-hospitals. It is a self-developed questionnaire including eleven questions. The results from 2009 and the new results from 2016 were matched with each other. RESULTS: The amount of hospitals performing sialendoscopy doubled and the number of interventions tripled. There were various reasons for denying sialendoscopy. Main reason was a lack of patients. No differences were seen in ambulant vs. inpatient interventions and the duration of sialendoscopy. Preoperative ultrasound was performed in all hospitals. CONCLUSIONS: The survey reveals an increasing number of hospitals performing sialendoscopy and an increasing number of sialendoscopies. Simultaneously, some hospitals alleged a lack of patients. These facts could explain a development of specialized centers for obstructive sialadenitis and sialendoscopy. Meanwhile, further salivary gland diseases are treated with sialendoscopy. The preoperative diagnostic of choice is ultrasound. Sialendoscopy seems to be more and more established in German ENT-hospitals.

Sudden bilateral sensorineural hearing loss after intravenous cocaine injection: a case report and review of the literature.

Little is known about the effects of intravenous abuse of cocaine, especially on the inner ear. We report on a 26-year-old man who presented to our outpatient department with a sudden severe hearing loss after intravenous injection of cocaine. The audiogram on admission showed symmetric air conduction levels up to 80 dB at 4 kHz. After treatment with intravenous sodium chloride, prednisolone, and pentoxifylline, the audiogram 2 days later showed a bilateral normacusis. A review of the literature on the topic is given and possible reasons for inner ear damages caused by cocaine are discussed.