A novel method for evaluating mastoid defect regrowth after cochlear implantation.

This retrospective study examined mastoid defects resulting from cochlear implant (CI) surgery and their potential for spontaneous regrowth across different age groups. Spontaneous closure of mastoid defects has been observed in certain CI patients during revision surgery or through post-operative temporal bone computer tomography (TB-CT). The analysis encompassed 123 CI recipients, comprising 81.3% children and 18.7% adults, who underwent post-operative TB-CT scans. Using image adjustment software, the study measured mastoid defect areas and found a significant reduction in children's defects between the initial and subsequent scans. Notably, mastoid defect areas differed significantly between children and adults at both time points. Furthermore, the analysis revealed significant correlations between mastoid defect areas and the age at implantation as well as the time elapsed since the CI surgery and the first CT scan. This study provides valuable insights for evaluating CI patients scheduled for revision surgery by assessing potential surgical challenges and duration. Furthermore, it may have a pivotal role in evaluating patients who experience postauricular swelling subsequent to CI surgery.

Pediatric Patient with Rhabdomyosarcoma Involving Temporal Bone: Case Report and Overview of Recent Cases.

BACKGROUND In the pediatric age group, middle ear tumors are rare. Rhabdomyosarcoma is considered the most common soft-tissue sarcoma in children. It comprises 5% of all pediatric malignant tumors. It is hypothesized to originate from embryonic mesenchymal cells of striated skeletal muscles. These malignant lesions display an aggressive behavior with local and distant metastasis and can be staged as per the Intergroup Rhabdomyosarcoma Study Group, depending on the organs involved, such as the orbit, head, neck, or genitourinary tract. CASE REPORT In this study, a 2-year-old boy with no medical ailments was presented with a history of ear pain and on/off bleeding from the right ear for 1 year. The patient's case was initially managed medically, for the clinical picture of an ear infection. However, clinical improvement was not seen. Therefore, radiological imaging was done. After further investigations, the diagnosis was confirmed, and a rare case of embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma of the temporal bone was reported. CONCLUSIONS Rhabdomyosarcoma is an uncommon tumor in which delayed diagnosis could cause a significant fatality rate in children. Physicians need a strong index of suspicion to make an early diagnosis. The presented case is of a 2-year-old boy with a clinical picture of a complicated ear infection who was found to have rhabdomyosarcoma of the temporal bone. Early detection and multimodal treatment are critical for a positive outcome.

Quality of Life and Cochlear Implant: Results in Saudi Children.

Objective To assess the quality of life (QoL) in Saudi children with cochlear implants (CI) and determine sociodemographic and clinical factors that have an impact on the perceived QoL. Methods A cross-sectional study is performed by comparing the QoL of Saudi toddlers and young CI recipients with normal children, using the Paediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 - Generic core scale (PedsQLTM 4.0 - GCS). A self-administered questionnaire was sent to parents of paediatric patients, who had cochlear implantation at King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH), from March 2016 to March 2018. Mothers of age-matched normal children who attended the obstetrics and gynaecology clinics at King Khalid University Hospital (KKUH), in November 2019 were considered as a control group. Results When children with CI and normal children PedsQLTM 4.0 - GCS subscales (physical, emotional, social, and school) and total functioning scores were compared, no single significant difference was noted between the groups. The sociodemographic and clinical factors that have an impact on the perceived QoL were: gender, birth order, and distance from the CI center. Emotional, social, psychosocial, and total functioning were the main dimensions affected. Conclusion The QoL of Saudi children with CI is comparable to those of normal children. However, among children with CI, gender, birth order, and distance from the CI center were found to have different effects on the QoL dimensions.

Surgical resident satisfaction with the current surgical training program in the Riyadh area.

BACKGROUND: The satisfaction of surgical residents with their training programs plays an important role in dictating its output. This survey was conducted to explore the satisfaction of surgical residents with their training programs in the Riyadh area. METHODS: A survey questionnaire was distributed in four major hospitals to explore the view of surgical residents regarding their training programs. Frequency tables were generated for each question in the survey. RESULTS: About 78 survey forms were distributed and 52 were retrieved (67%). About 45% of residents had a comprehensive orientation on admission to the program, but only 20% felt it was helpful. Only 40% of residents felt that their trainers were committed to training and that the consultants who were trained abroad were more committed than those trained locally (62% vs 36%, P =.01). Only 15% felt the residents themselves had enough bedside teaching or operative experience. Seventy-eight percent of the residents felt that current training does not meet their expectations. However, 85% felt that training abroad was better than local training, and 60% felt it should be mandatory. While 90% felt that training programs should be unified nationally and controlled by one organization, only 6% felt that the current governing body was capable of monitoring the training. Moreover, only 28% felt that current reviews of programs by the governing body are effective. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that surgical residents are generally dissatisfied with current training programs. The study suggests that there are significant weaknesses in the current programs and the governing body may be ineffective in monitoring the programs. We feel that a national review of surgical training programs is warranted in view of these results.