Outcomes of endoscopic modified cartilage-perichondrium tympanoplasty on different sized perforations.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the anatomic and functional outcomes of type1 tympanoplasty with endoscopic modified butterfly cartilage-perichondrium technique. METHODS: In our modification, perichondrium was elevated circumferentially till the attached part of the composite graft was approximately same size and shape of the perforation, cartilage was trimmed based on the perforation but 0.5 mm larger. Cartilage portion of the graft was placed medial to the edge of the perforation, then perichondrium was rolled out and draped on the circumferential raw surface of remaining tympanic membrane around. RESULTS: At 4 months postop, the anatomic integrity rate of the tympanic membrane perforation for small & medium sized perforation and large sized perforation group were 100 % and 94 % (p > 0.05). For the small & medium perforation group, the mean pre and 4 months postop ACs were 30 ± 8 dB and 18 ± 6.4 dB (p < 0.01). The mean pre and 4 months postop ABGs were 19 ± 11 dB and 9 ± 3 dB (p < 0.01). For the large perforation group, the mean pre and 4 months postop ACs were 43 ± 12.5 dB and 21.5 ± 7 dB (p < 0.01). The mean pre and 4 months postop ABGs were 34 ± 8.5 dB and 12.5 ± 6 dB (p < 0.01). The differences of mean 4 months postop ACs and mean 4 months postop ABGs between the two groups were not significant (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Compared to the conventional inlay butterfly cartilage tympanoplasty technique, large or marginal perforations can be sealed more securely by this modification.

Risk of hearing loss in the opposite ear after tympanomastoidectomy.

PURPOSE: The definitive treatment for chronic suppurative otitis media is surgery. Surgical technique and procedure varies according to individual case findings and pathology and may require mastoidectomies in which the canal wall is preserved or lowered to eradicate disease from mastoid air cells. Surgical treatment of chronic middle ear disease carries a risk of damage to the inner ear. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the noise produced by the tour system following chronic ear surgery causes sensorineural hearing loss, a condition for which not many studies have been published in the literature. METHODS: The study consisted of a total of 49 patients with type I, type II and type III canal wall preservation and 62 patients with tympanoplasty with canal wall preservation and lowering. Bone and air thresholds were compared before and after middle ear surgery. Changes in bone and air thresholds were compared according to the type of tympanoplasty. RESULTS: In the ICW-I, ICW-II and ICW-III tympanoplasties, and in the ICW and CWD tympanoplasties, the preoperative and postoperative values of the opposite ear hearing measurements were performed, and did not differ according to the type of surgery. There is no correlation drilling duration and hearing for the opposite ear. CONCLUSION: The prevention of postoperative sensorineural hearing loss depends on multiple factors, and assessing the magnitude of hearing loss in relation to these factors is important in determining the success of the surgery.

Comparison of endoscopic tympanoplasty, cartilage vs. temporalis fascia in chronic suppurative otitis media with inactive mucosal disease: A prospective randomised study.

BACKGROUND: The introduction of endoscopy into middle ear has open up new opportunities for minimal invasive temporal bone surgery. The present study was planned to compare anatomical and functional outcome in patients who underwent endoscope assisted tympanoplasty using cartilage and temporalis fascia graft. METHODS: The present prospective observational randomized study was carried out in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology of a tertiary care teaching hospital of Rajasthan, India from September 2020 to July 2021. Fifty patients of age group 18-60 years, with diagnosis of chronic otitis media having inactive mucosal disease were enrolled in the study and divided into two groups viz. cartilage (group I) and temporalis fascia group (group II). Each patient postoperatively underwent otoscopic examination of ear and pure tone audiometery at 8 weeks and 3rd month. Local wound condition, graft uptake and healing and hearing were assessed and compared. RESULTS: Graft uptake was 92% in cartilage group and 84% in temporalis fascia group. Air conduction and air-bone gap of patients in both the groups showed significant improvement after 3 months of surgery. (p˂0.05) Regarding bone conduction, both groups had shown non-significant changes. (p > 0.05) Hearing gain was comparable on both groups which was 6.71dB in cartilage group vs. 5.9 dB in other group. CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed that graft placement time for temporalis fascia graft was less than cartilage graft, but the difference was insignificant. Hearing improvement, graft uptake and clinical improvement were found to be statistically insignificant between both groups.

To detach or not to detach the umbo in type I tympanoplasty: functional results.

PURPOSE: To compare the audiological outcomes, tympanic membrane (TM) healing rates and complication rates in patients undergoing endoscopic underlay and over-under tympanoplasty type I (TTI). METHODS: The study includes 95 patients who underwent endoscopic TTI in the period between 2018 and 2023: 56% of the patients had the underlay technique and 41% had the over-under technique. Data regarding pre- and postoperative hearing, perforation characteristics, surgical procedures, graft types and complications were retrospectively analyzed. Audiometrical assessment included air conduction (AC) and bone conduction (BC) pure tone averages (PTA) and air-bone gap (ABG), pre- and postoperatively. RESULTS: Both underlay and over-under techniques significant improved AC PTA, with a mean ABG improvements of 5.9 dB and 7.2 dB, respectively. There was no significant difference in BC PTA between pre- and post-operative, indicating no inner ear damage in both techniques. The over-under technique showed a significantly higher TM closure rate (94.4%) compared to the underlay technique (80.6%). Complications were rare, with only one case of TM lateralization requiring revision surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic TTI is an effective treatment in improving auditory function in chronic middle ear diseases. In our cohort, the detachment of the umbo does not negatively influence the postoperative hearing results and does not increase rate of complications. Moreover, the over-under technique demonstrates superior TM closure rates, making it a valuable option for specific cases. However, future prospective studies with larger sample sizes and longer term follow-up are needed to validate these findings and provide more comprehensive insights.

Comparison of endoscope-assisted and microscope-assisted type I tympanoplasty; a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze and compare the available data about the outcomes of endoscopic and microscopic type I tympanoplasty. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, Cochrane library Ovid, Scopus, Google scholar, and ClinicalTrials. METHODS: We conducted a meta-analysis in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. We included comparative studies describing type I tympanoplasty, and comparing surgical outcomes of the endoscope with the microscope in terms of efficacy and safety. RESULTS: Our systematic search yielded 22 studies meeting the inclusion criteria and eligible for analysis. The pooled graft uptake rates and audiological results of endoscopic and microscopic tympanoplasty demonstrated non-significant differences. In contrast, endoscopic type I tympanoplasty outperforms microscopic tympanoplasty regarding a highly significant decrease not only in pooled mean operative time but also in the pooled complications rate. CONCLUSIONS: Based on our meta-analysis, the surgical outcomes of endoscope-assisted and microscope-assisted type I tympanoplasty in terms of postoperative hearing outcomes and the graft uptake rate were comparable. On the contrary, operative time and complications rate proved to be significantly reduced with endoscopy compared to microscopy. Hence, the endoscope is as efficient as the microscope in type I tympanoplasty but less invasive, fewer in complications and shorter in operative time.

Long-term clinical and radiological results for fat graft obliteration in subtotal petrosectomy and cochlear implant surgery: a retrospective clinical study.

PURPOSE: The study aimed to evaluate the long-term clinical, radiological, and functional results for subtotal petrosectomy and cochlear implant surgery with closure of the external auditory canal and fat obliteration. METHODS: We retrospectively included all consecutive cases of simultaneous subtotal petrosectomy and cochlear implant surgery performed at a tertiary referral center between 2009 and 2016 using the same surgical technique. All patients underwent postoperative high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and annual audiological assessments. A 5-year minimum clinical, radiological, and audiological follow-up was performed. The early and late postoperative results were compared. The main outcome measures were complications, postauricular retraction, fat graft reabsorption, and audiological outcomes. RESULTS: Twenty-nine procedures performed in 23 patients (six bilateral) met the inclusion criteria. The mean age of the patients was 67 ± 13.4 years and mean follow-up duration was 7.5 ± 2 years. At follow-up, postauricular retraction was detected in 24 cases (82.8%), including five cases (17.1%) with subcutaneous protrusion of implant and array. Fat graft volume was significantly reduced at late-HRCT in terms of maximum diameter (2.24 ± 1.0 cm vs 3.69 ± 0.7 cm; p < 0.0005) and surface area (1.88 ± 1.2 vs 4.24 ± 1.6 cm2, p < 0.0005). Six patients had extracochlear electrodes at late-HRCT (3/6 had an increased number of extracochlear electrodes), with a lowering of this group's performance of - 15% (p < 0.005) in the follow-up speech comprehension test. CONCLUSIONS: Subtotal petrosectomy with cochlear implantation is an effective long-term technique in selected cases. Fat grafts showed significant reabsorption at long-term follow-up with reaeration of the middle ear spaces. Prolonged clinical and radiological follow-up is recommended for monitoring implant performances and late complications.

Platelet rich fibrin augmented tympanoplasty versus cartilage tympanoplasty: a randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the current study was to evaluate the efficacy of PRF-augmented fascia tympanoplasty versus cartilage tympanoplasty in repair of large TM perforations. METHODS: This randomized clinical trial included 156 patients with dry large tympanic membrane perforations. Patients were randomly allocated into 2 groups, cartilage tympanoplasty group (n = 77) and platelet rich fibrin (PRF) augmented tympanoplasty group (n = 79). Graft take rates, hearing outcomes, operative time, and postoperative complications were documented and compared. RESULTS: Graft take rate was 96.1% in the cartilage group and 93.7% PRF group with no statistically significant difference. Operative time was significantly longer in the cartilage group. No differences in the hearing outcomes and postoperative complications were reported. CONCLUSION: Application of PRF on the fascia in tympanoplasty promotes healing of the tympanic membrane. PRF is safe, cheap, readily available, and easily prepared and applied. It increases the success rates of large tympanic membrane perforations without the need for cartilage grafts.

Efficacy and safety of a self-expandable retainer in endoscopic ear surgery.

PURPOSE: During endoscopic ear surgery (EES), it is important to maintain a clear view of the endoscopic camera to achieve a clean field. In this study, a self-expandable external auditory canal (EAC) retainer was developed to enable a more efficient and safer EES. This study aimed to evaluate the retainer's efficacy and safety in EES. METHODS: Among adult patients scheduled for endoscopic tympanoplasty, 50 participants were recruited. They were assigned to either the retainer or control group in a 1:1 ratio. The anatomical characteristics, number of endoscopic cleanings during surgery, surgeon's satisfaction, and other factors were evaluated. RESULTS: No differences were observed in the surgical direction, EAC size measured on preoperative temporal bone computed tomography scans, location and size of tympanic membrane perforation, or bleeding degree between the two groups. When comparing the surgical time, including retainer insertion and removal, the time was similar between groups (retainer group, 35 min; control group, 33.2 min). The frequency of endoscopic cleaning per minute was statistically significantly lower in the retainer group than in the control group (0.18 times per minute, p = 0.048). No side effects, including sensory abnormalities or allergic reactions, were reported in any patient who used the retainer. CONCLUSION: A reduction in unnecessary endoscopic cleaning during EES was observed while using the self-expandable retainer, leading to increased surgeon satisfaction and efficiency. Furthermore, as a safe method without side effects, the retainer could be widely used to various indications for EES beyond tympanoplasty.

Does the ChOLE classification relate to the duration of surgery?

INTRODUCTION: Cholesteatoma, a challenging entity in otologic surgery, necessitates a standardized classification system for effective communication among healthcare providers and consistent reporting of surgical outcomes. The ChOLE Classification System, introduced by Linder et al., stages cholesteatoma based on extension (Ch), ossicular chain status (O), life-threatening complications (L), and Eustachian tube function and mastoid pneumatization (E). METHODS: We classified 199 patients who underwent cholesteatoma surgery between 2019 and 2023 in our University Hospital to assess the distribution of the ChOLE stages and to examine the relationship between the ChOLE stages and the duration of surgery. RESULTS: This study revealed significant correlations between the ChOLE stage and respective subgroups of the classification and duration of surgery and thus complexity of procedure. CONCLUSION: Despite limitations, the ChOLE classification proves valuable in predicting surgical complexity and optimizing patient care. Further research is warranted to validate these findings and enhance cholesteatoma management strategies.

Long term results of glass ionomer ossiculoplasty.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze and compare the early and late post-operative results of glass ionomer bone cement (GIBC) used in ossiculoplasty. METHODS: The pre-operative, early post-operative (3 months) and late post-operative (> 2 years) audiometric findings, namely the pure-tone average (PTA), bone conduction threshold (BCT) and air-bone gap (ABG) of 40 patients who underwent GIBC ossiculoplasty for different etiologies were analyzed. Early and late results were compared. Also, the patients were grouped in terms of prognostic factors and applied ossiculoplasty techniques, and the results were compared between the groups. RESULTS: There were statistically significant improvements in the pure-tone average and air-bone gap of the patients in the early post-operative period (PTA from 59.60 ± 15.95 to 40.37 ± 17.83 and ABG from 37.12 ± 11.18 to 19.78 ± 10.41, p < 0.001 for both). There were no statistically significant changes in any of the audiometric parameters in the late post-operative period (PTA from 40.37 ± 17.83 to 39.79 ± 17.91, ABG from 19.78 ± 10.41 to 19.32 ± 9.60, BCT from 17.99 ± 12.71 to 18.31 ± 13.99, p > 0.05 for all). Presence of tympanosclerosis was found to be the only prognostic factor to affect the outcome. CONCLUSION: GIBC is a safe and reliable material for ossiculoplasty, which maintains its ability to conduct sound in the long-term follow-up.

Bilateral same-day myringoplasty: a feasible option?

PURPOSE: Retrospective evaluation of bilateral same-day myringoplasty outcomes. METHODS: Patients who underwent bilateral same-day myringoplasty from 2005 to 2019. RESULTS: Thirty-eight patients underwent bilateral myringoplasty. Mean age was 44.5 years and 55.3% patients were male. Tragal perichondrium-cartilage composite graft was the most frequently used graft material (82.9%). Perforation closure was achieved in 78.9%. Postoperative Pure Tone Average and Air-Bone Gap decreased significantly (p < 0.05), except for the Air-Bone Gap of the right ear (p = 0.058). The complications were cholesteatoma (1.3%), otorrhea (6.6%) and tympanic membrane retraction (1.3%). CONCLUSIONS: Bilateral same-day myringoplasty is a feasible procedure in selected patients. Good anatomic and functional outcomes, as well as a low rate of complications, are achieved with this procedure, improving patient comfort and allowing for a reduction in operation time and costs.

Safety and performance of the new med-el total ossicular replacement prostheses.

PURPOSE: This multicentric, retrospective study provides safety and performance data of the MED-EL total ossicular replacement prostheses (TORP). METHODS: Patients underwent tympanoplasty with mXACT Total Prosthesis Center, mXACT Total Prosthesis Offcenter or mXACT PRO Total Prosthesis. The clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. Follow-up examination included access to the medical record (for adverse events) of the patients, ear microscopy and pure-tone audiometry to determine the post-operative pure tone average of the frequencies 0.5, 1, 2 and 3 kHz (PTA4). The post-operative PTA4 air bone gap (ABG) was used to evaluate the audiological outcome. A post-operative minimum and maximum follow-up period was not defined. RESULTS: 103 patients were implanted with a TORP. 102 (88 adults, 14 children; 37 CHL, 64 MHL, 1 not specified) patients were analyzed for safety and 92 (79 adults, 13 children) patients for performance of the prostheses. ADVERSE EVENTS RESULTS (N = 102): In 1 patient (child, mXACT Total Prosthesis Offcenter) a prosthesis dislocation was reported, which lead to a revision surgery. No prosthesis extrusion or migration was reported. AUDIOLOGICAL RESULTS (N = 92): 49 (53.3%) of the 92 patients had a PTA4 ABG of ≤ 20 dB and therefore a successful rehabilitation. The mean post-operative PTA4 ABG of all 92 patients was 21.0 ± 9.7 dB. The first endpoint, improvement in post-operative PTA4 ABG of ≤ 20 dB by ≥ 25% of the patients was achieved. The individual Δ BC PTA4 (post-operative minus pre-operative BC PTA4) thresholds were stable (within ± 5 dB HL) in 91 (98.9%) patients. 1 patient had a BC PTA4 deterioration of 11.3 dB HL. CONCLUSION: The MED-EL TORPs are safe and effective for middle ear reconstruction. Trial registration number NCT05565339, September 09, 2022, retrospectively registered.

The Prognostic Value of Active Otitis Media on Tympanoplasty Success Rate-A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVES: The aim is to investigate the influence of an active otitis media on the success rate of tympanoplasty in patients with a chronic otitis media (COM) and a tympanic membrane perforation. DATABASES REVIEWED: PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Library. METHODS: The inclusion criteria were studies on closure rates of tympanoplasty performed in COM patients of any age with a tympanic membrane perforation caused by COM. The exclusion criteria were studies on patients undergoing concomitant mastoidectomy, ossicular chain reconstruction, tuboplasty, adenoidectomy, revision tympanoplasty, patients with perforations due to other conditions than COM, and letters to editors, commentaries, conference abstracts and case reports. The included articles were critically appraised using the QUIPS tool. Data on tympanic membrane closure rate were extracted, odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of the closure rate with a wet versus a dry ear were calculated. RESULTS: The search was performed on 1 February 2023. Of 4671 articles, 16 studies were included and critically appraised. Of these observational studies (nine prospective, seven retrospective), with a total of 1509 patients (dry ear group n = 1003; wet ear group n = 506), two studies stated a significant difference in success rate, one in favour of a dry ear and one in favour of a wet ear at time of surgery. All other studies did not show a statistically significant difference. Overall, the risk of bias was considered moderate to high. CONCLUSIONS: We found no significant prognostic value of having an active otitis media during tympanoplasty on tympanic membrane closure rates. Because the overall risk of bias was considered moderate to high, no strong conclusions can be made. To be able to answer this question with higher levels of evidence, high-quality prospective or randomized studies are needed.

Sometimes less is more: experience with endoscopic myringoplasty.

A retrospective review of the outcomes of patients who underwent endoscopic myringoplasties in our institution was conducted. The aim was to highlight our results with this procedure. The database of patient records was manually checked, and the patients who had undergone Endoscopic Myringoplasties were identified, and their demographics, admitting notes, operating notes, and discharge summaries were reviewed. Graft failure was considered if the patient had a perforation in the graft during the outpatient follow-up. The information was compiled, and basic statistics were derived. A total of 31 patients were identified who had undergone Endoscopic Myringoplasty. Patients' age ranged from 14-52 years. None of the patients developed any immediate postoperative complications. Follow-up otoscopic examination showed 28 patients with an intact graft and only one patient with graft failure. Two patients were lost to follow up. Our success rate with Endoscopic Myringoplasty is 96.6%, which is comparable to the international standard success rate of 80-95%. The results of this study encourage adopting an endoscopic approach where the expertise is available.

[Features of otosurgery in children after blast injuries]. / Osobennosti rekonstruktivnoi otokhirurgii u detei posle minno-vzryvnykh ranenii.

An explosion is a process that rapidly releases a huge amount of energy in the form of heat, kinetic energy, and high-pressure shock waves. Since the organ of hearing is most susceptible to pressure changes, damage to the sound-conducting or sound-receiving systems is inevitable in case of an explosive injury. This article examines the mechanism of formation of explosive injuries of the middle and inner ear in children and adolescents, the features of diagnosis and tactics of surgical reconstructive treatment of explosive ear injuries based on the data available in the scientific literature and their own experience.

Role of mastoid pneumatization in predicting tympanoplasty results: Will it have the same importance in different age groups?

INTRODUCTION: There are several factors that seem to affect the surgical success rate of tympanoplasty, one of them being the pneumatization of the contralateral mastoid. In the current literature, several studies have been published with classification proposals for temporal bone pneumatization pattern. This study aims to evaluate the role of mastoid air cell extension in relation to the sigmoid sinus in predicting the surgical success of tympanoplasty. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This case-control study was performed on patients diagnosed with chronic otitis media (COM) who underwent type I tympanoplasty. The study group did not close the tympanic membrane, or there was a retraction or lateralization of the graft. The control group consisted of patients with surgical success. RESULTS: No statistically significant difference was found between groups regrading age, gender, perforation side/type, previous nasal surgery, and the presence of chronic otitis media in contralateral ear. A statistically significant difference was found when groups were compared in relation to the degree of pneumatization of the contralateral ear (p = 0.046), and this relationship does not seem to be influenced by age. CONCLUSION: To predict surgical success in terms of tympanic membrane closure in tympanoplasty, classification of contralateral ear pneumatization degree using the sigmoid sinus as a reference seems to be a valid and easy to apply method, and makes it possible to restrict the evaluation of pneumatization to the mastoid, a cell complex that does not seem to change with age.

Otologic use of porcine small intestinal submucosal graft (biodesign): A MAUDE database review.

OBJECTIVE: To review and summarize reported adverse events related to the use of porcine small intestine submucosal grafts (Biodesign™) in otologic procedures. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cross-sectional analysis. SETTING: Food and Drug Administration's Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) database. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The MAUDE database was queried for all medical device reports (MDR) related to otologic use of Biodesign™ (Cook Medical, Bloomington, IN) from January 2016 to November 2022. Adverse events (AEs) were identified by reviewing all reports with the basic search term "Biodesign" and "Biodesign, Otologic". Reports were individually reviewed and categorized with special attention to AEs. RESULTS: A total of 500 reports were reviewed. Since FDA approval of Biodesign™ in 2016, there have been 5 adverse events reported for use of Biodesign™ during otologic surgery (tympanoplasty, n = 3; stapes surgery, n = 2). All reported events described patient injury, and all cases required at least one revision surgery. Four cases described significant foreign body inflammatory reactions. Complications included hearing loss (n = 3), severe otalgia (n = 2), persistent perforation (n = 2), vertigo (n = 2), and facial paralysis (n = 1). CONCLUSION: The use of porcine small intestinal submucosal graft has been thought to be a safe and effective option for otologic surgery, with the advantage of availability without graft harvest in minimally invasive endoscopic surgery. However, foreign body or granulomatous reactions have been documented and should be considered prior to its use in otologic surgery.

Learning curve comparable study of microscopic and endoscopic type 1 tympanoplasty.

OBJECTIVES: The comparative efficacy of microscopic tympanoplasty (MT) and endoscopic tympanoplasty (ET) has been widely studied to some extent through meta-analyses. However, most studies on learning curve comparisons between the two surgeries were performed by experienced ET surgeons. We compared the surgical outcomes of MT and ET and evaluated the difference of learning curve between ET and MT performed by a single unskilled, in both MT and ET, surgeon. DESIGN: A total of 91 patients underwent ET and MT at a tertiary hospital. We reviewed the patients' medical records and analyzed all findings, including otoscopic pictures, pure tone audiometry (PTA) before and after surgery, and operation records. All operations were performed by a single otologist who had an experience of a year of otology fellowship at a tertiary university hospital. We compared the demographic and clinical characteristics, including age, sex, admission duration, and audiological outcomes before and after surgery. We also assessed the difference in the decrease in operation time. RESULTS: Among 91 patients, 44 were in the ET group and 47 were in the MT group. The mean age was 51.15 years, and 37 (40.7%) were men. Eighty-two (90.1%) patients were administered local anesthesia. Graft failure was observed in 19 (20.9%) patients, and the mean postoperative follow-up duration was 66.42 days. There were no statistically significant differences in age, sex, affected side, graft failure rate, and operation time between the ET and MT groups. There was a significant improvement in air conduction hearing and air-bone gap after surgery in both groups. Bone conduction hearing did not change before and after the surgery in either group. However, the improvement in air condition and reduction in the air-bone gap did not differ between the two groups. Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that there were no significant variables that affected operation time among age, sex, operation method (ET or MT), anesthesia, graft material, and technique. The spline regression analysis showed the decrease in operative time in ET was significantly faster than MT in the period from 8th to 19th cases. CONCLUSIONS: The surgical outcomes of ET are comparable to those of MT in terms of operation time, graft uptake, and postoperative hearing results, even in surgeons who are not experienced with both MT and ET. The operation time of ET was longer than that of MT in the early phase, and the decrease in the operating time was significantly faster in ET than in MT. Both MT and ET reached a plateau in the operation time, and this plateau appeared to be similar in both surgeries.

EAONO/JOS classification for acquired cholesteatoma: evaluating the impact of the number of affected sites on treatment and outcomes.

PURPOSE: The European and Japanese system for cholesteatoma classification proposed an anatomical differentiation in five sites. In stage I disease, one site would be affected and in stage II, two to five. We tested the significance of this differentiation by analyzing the influence of the number of affected sites on residual disease, hearing ability and surgical complexity. METHODS: Cases of acquired cholesteatoma treated at a single tertiary referral center between 2010-01-01 and 2019-07-31 were retrospectively analyzed. Residual disease was determined according to the system. The air-bone gap mean of 0.5, 1, 2, 3 kHz (ABG) and its change with surgery served as hearing outcome. The surgical complexity was estimated regarding the Wullstein's tympanoplasty classification and the procedure approach (transcanal, canal up/down). RESULTS: 513 ears (431 patients) were followed-up during 21.6 ± 21.5 months. 107 (20.9%) ears had one site affected, 130 (25.3%) two, 157 (30.6%) three, 72 (14.0%) four and 47 (9.2%) five. An increasing number of affected sites resulted in higher residual rates (9.4-21.3%, p = 0.008) and surgical complexity, as well poorer ABG (preoperative 14.1 to 25.3 dB, postoperative 11.3-16.8 dB, p < 0.001). These differences existed between the means of cases of stage I and II, but also when only considering ears with stage II classification. CONCLUSION: The data showed statistically significant differences when comparing the averages of ears with two to five affected sites, questioning the pertinence of the differentiation between stages I and II.

Mastoidectomy in surgical procedures to treat retraction pockets: a single-center experience and review of the literature.

PURPOSE: Retraction pocket (RP) is a common event affecting the middle ear when a negative pressure within it causes a retraction of a single part of the tympanic membrane (TM). Patients can be asymptomatic or can experience hearing loss, fullness feeling and/or ear discharge. RP can be stable or develop a cholesteatoma; aim of the study was to investigate if mastoidectomy may play a role in the surgical management of patients suffering from RP, both reporting our experience and discussing the existing literature. METHODS: Fifty-one patients affected by RP were referred for surgery and randomly divided into two groups. Patients of G1 group underwent tympanoplasty with mastoidectomy, patients of G2 group underwent tympanoplasty only. A systematic review of the literature was then carried out by applying the PRISMA guidelines. RESULTS: The mean follow-up lasted about 36 months. The G1 and G2 groups reached a postoperative mean air-bone gap (ABG) of 7.1 dB HL and 5.1 dB HL, respectively, with a mean ABG improvement of 13.2 dB HL and 12.4 dB HL. An ABG improvement was observed in the 59.7% of the G1 group and in the 63.2% of the G2 group, respectively (p > 0.5). Only one case of long-term complication was recognized in the G1 group. We combined, integrated and analyzed results of our prospective study with results of the literature review. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the combined results of our study and literature review we may conclude that there is no evident benefit in performing mastoidectomy for the treatment of RP. In fact, no differences in ABG improvement or in RP recurrence were reported between the two groups.