Use of a Caprine Model for Simulation and Training of Endoscopic Ear surgery.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to evaluate the utility of a caprine model in endoscopic ear surgical education using the index procedures of tympanoplasty and ossiculoplasty. Specifically, this study assessed the face and content validity of the caprine model, and the potential impact of anatomical differences on trainee understanding of human middle ear anatomy. METHODS: Twelve otolaryngology trainees attended a 3-hour endoscopic ear surgery course utilizing the caprine model in which they completed canalplasty, tympanoplasty, and ossiculoplasty. Prior to the course, the trainees completed a self-reported needs assessment and knowledge assessment of human middle ear anatomy. Following the course, the trainees repeated the knowledge assessment and completed evaluation and validation questionnaires. Five-point Likert scores were used for the needs assessment and validation questionnaire. RESULTS: Of the 12 trainees, 9 participated in the study. All domains of the learner needs assessment showed an average improvement of 1 point on the post-course evaluation with 6 of 9 domains being significantly improved using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test (P< .05). The model achieved validation in the domains of face, content, and global content validity with an average Likert score > 4. Knowledge assessment scores increased by 7% (P=.23) after the course compared to before. CONCLUSION: The caprine model offers an effective surgical simulation model for endoscopic ear surgery training with good face and content validity. We find it to be readily available and affordable. We currently use it routinely to give otolaryngology residents the experience of endoscopic ear surgery before operating on patients.

Quantifying Neck Fibrosis: Establishing the Domain Structure of the Neck Fibrosis Scale.

OBJECTIVE: We recently described the development of the Neck Fibrosis Scale (NFS). In this submission, we confirm domain structure and validate a scoring system for the NFS. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cross-sectional study. METHODS: Between January 2020 and December 2021, 127 head and neck cancer patients with varying degrees of cutaneous neck fibrosis completed the original 15 item NFS. Exploratory factor analysis was used to identify optimal groupings with similar underlying factors. The association between the domains of the NFS and various measures of neck morbidity (i.e., construct validity) were assessed using gamma regression. RESULTS: Exploratory factor analysis confirmed 13 of the 15 items from the NFS mapped onto two factors, which were labelled 'physical' and 'emotional' domains. Of the remaining two items, 'energy' did not load uniquely onto one factor and was removed. 'Neck-swelling' did not load on either factor (loadings <0.3) but was retained within the physical domain based on clinical importance. This resulted in a revised 14-item questionnaire. Internal consistency for these two domains was high (>0.8, p < 0.01). Both the physical and emotional domains of the revised NFS show strong correlation with the neck dissection impairment index and neck range of motion. The physical domain strongly correlated with neck elasticity (0.902 [95%CI 0.839-0.972], p < 0.01). Patients receiving multimodal therapy had physical domain scores that were 31.6% [95% 13.9-51.8] higher (worse) than unimodal therapy patients. CONCLUSIONS: A domain structure and scoring strategy have been developed for the NFS. Future efforts should be directed toward an evaluation of responsiveness. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA Laryngoscope, 133:2198-2202, 2023.

Quantifying Neck Fibrosis and Its Functional Implications: Development of the Neck Fibrosis Scale.

OBJECTIVE: Despite increasing recognition of the importance of functional outcomes for patients with head and neck cancer, post-treatment neck fibrosis remains poorly understood. We sought to develop and validate a patient reported outcome measure for head and neck cancer patients with neck fibrosis. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective multiphase cross-sectional study. METHODS: To guide instrument development, we employed the World Health Organization International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health as our conceptual framework. Items were generated using a composite strategy consisting of patient focus groups, literature review, and expert opinion from a multidisciplinary group. Candidate items were reduced through the item impact method. Preliminary psychometric properties of the finalized instrument were evaluated through measures of internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and construct validity. RESULTS: Four in person focus groups were held with 13 head and neck cancer patients. The process of item generation led to 221 relevant citations and 68 unique items. An additional 17 items were identified from review of existing neck disability questionnaires and expert opinion. A draft instrument with 25 candidate items was generated and reduced to its final 15-item scale using item impact method. Early psychometric testing revealed excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.95) and test-retest reliability [ICC = 0.95]. Internal consistency at the item level was good (>0.7) for 11/15 individual items. Four separate constructs were evaluated. Three of the four constructs matched our a priori hypotheses. CONCLUSION: The Neck Fibrosis Scale demonstrates preliminary reliability and validity for discriminate use. Further research is needed to confirm dimensionality and assess responsiveness. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA Laryngoscope, 132:1015-1021, 2022.

Comparing Transcanal Endoscopic Ear Surgery to Post-Auricular Microscope-Guided Surgery in Pediatric Ossiculoplasty: Hearing Outcomes and Post-Operative Pain.

OBJECTIVE: This study compares post-operative hearing outcomes and morbidity after pediatric total ossicular replacement prosthesis (TORP) ossiculoplasty with transcanal totally endoscopic ear surgery (TEES) versus a post-auricular microscope-guided (PAM) approach. PATIENTS: Forty-four children who underwent ossiculoplasty with titanium TORP after previous cholesteatoma surgery. INTERVENTION: Ossiculoplasty using TEES or PAM approach. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Hearing outcome after ossiculoplasty was determined by post-operative air-bone gap (ABG) on audiogram nearest to 1 year after surgery. Post-operative morbidity was measured by total number of opiate doses the child received during hospital stay, along with the highest documented post-operative pain score. Comparisons were made with Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: Hearing data were available for 41 patients: 21 had undergone TEES (median preoperative ABG 39 dB) and 20 had PAM surgery (median preoperative ABG 39 dB). Post-operatively at 1 year, ABG closed significantly in each group (TEES 21 dB, p = 0.003; PAM 23 dB, p = 0.01), and there was no difference between groups (p = 0.6). 57% who underwent TEES and 50% who underwent PAM surgery experienced serviceable hearing post-operatively, defined as air conduction pure-tone average (PTA) ≤ 30 dB HL. Visual analogue pain scores from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain imaginable) were available for 13 who underwent TEES and 18 who underwent PAM surgery. In children undergoing TEES, only two reported pain above 0, with the highest pain score being 4. Children undergoing PAM surgery had a median pain score of 3 (median difference = 3, p < 0.001). Children undergoing TEES required fewer weight appropriate doses of opiate analgesic (median = 0) than children who underwent PAM surgery (median = 1) (median difference = 1, p = 0.003). Children undergoing TEES had a significantly shorter surgical time (median 135 min) than those who underwent PAM surgery (median 168 min) (median difference = 33 min, p = <0.006). CONCLUSION: Hearing outcomes in TORP ossiculoplasty are similar in TEES and PAM surgery, and TEES may decrease post-operative pain.

Association between symptomatic submucous cleft palate and otologic disease: A retrospective review.

INTRODUCTION: Submucous cleft palate (SMCP) is the most common congenital malformation of the posterior palate and characterized in part by palatal muscle diastasis. Patients with SMCP are considered symptomatic when suffering from velopharyngeal insufficiency which leads to hypernasality of speech and excess nasal air emission. SMCP results from defects in the muscles thought to be responsible for regulating the patency of the eustachian tube which can lead to a number of middle ear pathologies and ultimately hearing loss. Hearing loss, especially at a young age, can make speech acquisition a challenge. The purpose of this study was to review patients with symptomatic SMCP (SSMCP) who have presented to our center and report on the association between SSMCP and otologic disease. METHODS: This study was a retrospective review of all patients presenting to our center between 2004 and 2016. Patients with SSMCP were identified through a patient database maintained on site. Inclusion criteria were diagnosis of SMCP and documentation of the presence or absence of otologic disease. Once identified patient records were reviewed and various demographic and patient factors were recorded. Patients were then grouped into cohorts of those with and without otologic disease and those requiring tympanostomy tubes and not. T-tests were then used to compare various factors between cohorts. RESULTS: A total of 73 patients were identified and 58 met inclusion criteria (mean age 5.8 years, male:female 36:22). 27.5% of patients were diagnosed with a genetic condition. 69% of patients had otologic disease and 47% required at least one set of bilateral tympanostomy myringotomy tubes. The cohort with ear disease tended to have worse scores on ACPA testing though this was not statistically significant. There were no significant demographic differences between the cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with symptomatic SMCP suffer from a higher incidence of otologic disease and bilateral myringotomy tube placement than the general population. This is an important potential comorbidity in SSMCP patients as it can act as a further barrier to speech acquisition. Further research is needed to determine if otologic disease can be used for prognostication or treatment purposes.