Orbital Complications After Cochlear Implant Surgery in a Patient With Silent Sinus Syndrome.

Cochlear implantation is an effective procedure for treating patients with severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss. Silent sinus syndrome (SSS) is an uncommon disease that affects the maxillary sinus. It is diagnosed clinically and confirmed radiologically. This study describes the case of a four-year-old child who presented with bilateral profound congenital hearing loss with a family history of congenital hearing loss. The patient had no significant complaints regarding the paranasal sinuses or orbits. Radiological evaluation, including temporal bone computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the ear and internal auditory meatus, showed normal anatomy of the inner ear and petrous bone bilaterally. However, findings of SSS were incidentally detected in the left maxillary sinus. The patient underwent bilateral simultaneous cochlear implantation. On the second postoperative day, he developed left-sided ophthalmoplegia, pain on eye movement, mild proptosis, and upper and lower eyelid swelling with erythema and tenderness. The patient improved rapidly following antibiotic treatment and was almost normal by the fifth postoperative day with no notable findings; hence, he was discharged. Surgeons should carefully evaluate preoperative radiological images of the paranasal sinuses for any malformation or pathology, so that appropriate medical or surgical treatment can be given.

Otogenic Pneumocephalus After Tegmen Bone Reconstruction: A Case Report.

Pneumocephalus is usually induced by trauma, infections, tumors of the skull base, and surgical interventions. Spontaneous pneumocephalus occurs due to a defect in the temporal bone with no obvious cause. Few cases have been reported with spontaneous otogenic pneumocephalus. However, delayed postoperative pneumocephalus is rarely reported in the literature. Here, we present a case of otogenic pneumocephalus through Eustachian tube (ET) preceded by nose blowing 10 days after surgical treatment of meningoencephalocele of the right middle ear (ME) cleft and reconstruction of tegmen and dural defects. Pneumocephalus was provoked by decreased intracranial pressure (ICP) secondary to placement of lumbar drain, which caused direct communication between unsutured dural defect and the defective posterior wall of external auditory canal skin. A revision surgery of combined transmastoid/middle cranial fossa approach was performed for intracranial decompression followed by appropriate closure by suturing the dura, obliterating the ET and ME.

Cochlear implantation among patients with otosclerosis: a systematic review of clinical characteristics and outcomes.

PURPOSE: There have been considerable advancements in cochlear implants in different clinical scenarios; however, their use in patients with otosclerosis remains challenging. This review aimed to investigate the surgical and clinical outcomes of cochlear implantation in patients with otosclerosis. METHODS: An electronic literature search was performed using four main databases through February 2021 to identify original studies of cochlear implantation in patients with otosclerosis for inclusion in this systematic review. The study protocol was registered with the Prospectively Registered Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (reference number: CRD42021234753). RESULTS: A total of 23 studies including 3162 patients were enrolled. Of these patients, only 392 had otosclerosis and underwent cochlear implantation. The duration of deafness was reported in only eight studies, extending up to 50 years. Far-advanced otosclerosis was observed in 153 patients. A total of 56 patients used hearing aids. Stapedectomy and stapedotomy were performed in 118 and 63 patients, respectively. In three studies, the temporary success of stapedectomy and stapedotomy was 6 (43%) and 5 (71%) patients, respectively. Computed tomography was used as a preoperative assessment tool in most studies (n = 14, 60.9%). Incomplete implant insertion occurred in 17 patients, while facial nerve stimulation occurred in 36 patients after implantation. CONCLUSION: Cochlear implantation is a relatively safe modality that can provide promising audiological outcomes in patients with otosclerosis. However, several factors, including cochlear ossification, duration of deafness, and previous operations, can affect its outcomes. Further studies with a larger sample population are recommended.

Clinical Approaches To External Auditory Canal Hemangiomas: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVES: Hemangioma is a common soft tissue tumor that can be categorized mainly into cavernous, capillary, and venous subtypes. It usually develops in the head and neck and rarely in the external auditory canal (EAC). METHODS: A systematic review of patients with capillary hemangioma of the EAC was performed. A computerized systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science to extract relevant studies for a qualitative review. RESULTS: A total of 38 patients were included in the systematic review, and half of them were men. Hearing loss was the most common presenting feature (n = 19; 50%), followed by aural fullness (n = 15; 39.4%). Cavernous hemangioma was the predominant type (n = 22, 57.8%). Endaural and transcanal surgical approaches were the most frequent, with ten (26.3%) and nine (23.6%) cases, respectively. Most of the patients (n = 31; 81.5%) had no recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Hemangioma of the EAC may not be uncommon as healthcare professionals may expect. Hearing loss, aural fullness, and tinnitus are possible symptoms, but many patients remain asymptomatic. Surgical excision is the main effective management option, and complete resolution is the most prevalent outcome. Computed tomography assists in the diagnosis, but histopathological examination after resection is mandatory for the definitive diagnosis.

Evaluation of computed tomography parameters in patients with facial nerve stimulation post-cochlear implantation.

PURPOSE: To compare the preoperative computed tomography (CT) parameters, including the thickness and density of the bone separating the upper basal turn of the cochlea (UBTC) and the labyrinthine segment of the facial nerve (LSFN), in patients with and without facial nerve stimulation (FNS) in post-cochlear implants (CI). METHODS: A retrospective case review of 1700 CI recipients in a tertiary referral center between January 2010 and January 2020 was performed; out of the 35 recipients who were found to have FNS, 29 were included in the study. The control group comprised the same number of randomly selected patients. CT parameters of the patients were measured independently by three fellowship-trained neuro-otologists blinded to the postoperative status of the patients. Thickness in axial and coronal views and density of the bone separating the UBTC and the LSFN were measured. RESULT: There was satisfactory agreement between the readings of the three reviewers. The distances (in mm) between the UBTC and LSFN obtained from the coronal (0.43 ± 0.24 vs. 0.63 ± 0.2) and axial (0.42 ± 0.25 vs. 0.6 ± 0.18) views were statistically lower in the FNS group (p = 0.001 and 0.005, respectively). The density (in HU) of the bony partition was also statistically lower in the FNS group (1038 ± 821 vs. 1409 ± 519; p = 0.029). CONCLUSION: Patients who experienced FNS postoperatively had significantly lower distance and bone density between the UBTC and the LSFN. This finding can help surgeons in preoperative planning in an attempt to decrease the occurrence of FNS.

Systematic Review of Postcochlear Implant Electrode Migration: What Is Known?

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Electrode migration after cochlear implantation (CI) is a rare complication that accounts for 1to 15% of all revision surgery. This study is a systematic review of the literature for investigating the knowledge and approaches to the incidence of electrode migration after CI. METHODS: A systematic electronic search of the literature was carried out using PubMed, Cochrane, Virtual Health Library, Scopus and Web of Science (ISI). All original articles that reported electrode migration after CI surgery were included. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and CARE checklist were utilized for the assessment of the risk of bias. Descriptive data analysis was performed using SPSS software. RESULTS: A total of 26 studies including 4,316 patients were included. Out of them, 289 patients had electrode migration following CI. To diagnose electrode migration, traditional computed tomography scan was used in 13 studies, while cone-beam computed tomography was applied in three studies. In addition, electrode migration was detected during intraoperative exploration in eight studies. The most common presenting symptom was change in sound/poor performance (n = 43) followed by pain sensation (n = 15) and facial nerve stimulation (n = 10). Cholesteatoma was the most common associated pathology (n = 10) followed by infection (n = 9) and ossification of the basal turn of the cochlea (n = 8). CONCLUSION: Electrode migration is a major complication of CI and could be more common than previously thought. As it may occur with or without clinical complaints, long-term follow-up through routine radiological scanning is recommended. Further studies are warranted to identify the underlying mechanism of electrode extrusion and the appropriate fixation method.