Typical or Atypical Ramsay-Hunt Syndrome in Delayed Facial Palsy After Stapedectomy?

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to define the typical pattern for varicella zoster virus (VZV) reactivation in delayed facial palsy (DFP) after stapedectomy for otosclerosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Review of the relevant literature, personal casistics, and case-report. RESULTS: In total, 48 cases of DFP after stapes surgery have been described so far, including the reported case with exclusive manifestation of atypical Ramsay Hunt syndrome (RH); in the personal series of 1253 stapedectomies, DFP occurred in only one case (0.08%). Complete DFP (House-Brackmann grade VI) rapidly developed 12 days after surgery; RH appeared 2 days later, confirming the role of VZV. The DFP started improving after 8 weeks and completely recovered 6 months later. CONCLUSION: Acute otalgia prior to DFP should raise the suspicion of VZV reactivation. Atypical RH is the most frequent pattern that occurs in DFP after stapedectomy.

Fisch's reversal steps stapedotomy: when to use it?

OBJECTIVE: To determine that the use of Fisch's reversal steps stapedotomy is recommended only when the visible portion of the footplate is blue in all its points before removing the stapes superstructure. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study started on January 2007 and ended on June 2007, when the statistical data reached significance. Fifty patients with otosclerosis were examined. Four otosclerosis were excluded from the study following the exclusion criteria indicated by Fisch (obliterative otosclerosis and narrow oval niche). Finally, 46 otosclerosis patients were considered for the study. For all patients, stapedotomy procedures using the reversal steps technique by Fisch were planned. The study group was divided into 2 groups (A and B) on the basis of the footplate color before removing the stapes superstructure. Group A included otosclerosis with blue footplate (n = 34). Group B included otosclerosis with white footplate (n = 12). We estimated whether the reversal steps stapedotomy proposed by Fisch significantly avoids incus complications (luxation and subluxation) and stapes footplate complications (luxation and fracture) both in blue and white otosclerosis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Footplate color, incidence of complications. RESULTS: The footplate fenestration had not caused fractures or luxation of footplate in both groups. The fracture of the anterior crus had caused 5 footplate complications (2 luxations and 3 fractures) in Group B, but none in Group A. This difference was significant. In Group A, we had no subluxation/luxation of the incus. In Group B, we had 3 incus subluxations. This difference was significant. CONCLUSION: The use of Fisch's reversal steps stapedotomy is recommended only when the visible portion of the footplate, before removing the stapes superstructure, is blue in all its points, that is, "blue otosclerosis," because only in this case that the original idea of Fisch avoids incus and footplate complications. When the visible portion of the footplate, before removing the stapes superstructure, is white in all or in most of its points, that is, "white otosclerosis," the reversal steps technique by Fisch is not recommended because it does not avoid incus luxation/subluxation and footplate complications (fracture and luxation of the anterior half).

Is it possible to predict diffuse obliterative otosclerosis preoperatively by audiologic examination.

Patients with diffuse obliterative otosclerosis have more extensive footplate pathology than annular cases. As a result of this more skill is required for diffuse otosclerosis cases, and postoperative hearing results are usually worse than annular cases. In this retrospective study we compared the preoperative audiological features of annular and diffuse otosclerosis patients. The subjects were 60 patients with conductive hearing loss who had undergone stapedectomy. Annular and diffuse groups were comprised of 30 patients each. Annular otosclerosis was defined as the footplate pathology involving the annular ligament only, where the footplate of the stapes is very thin and retains its bluish color. On the other hand diffuse, obliterative otosclerosis was defined as the pathology involving the whole footplate and also in some cases extending beyond the confines of the annular ligament. In each group preoperative air- and bone-conduction levels at 125-6000 Hz and 500-4000 Hz were noted respectively. Average air-bone gap for the obliterative otosclerosis group was 37.5 dB; the same value for the annular group was 23.8 dB (p<0.05). The gap characteristics of the audiogram were different for the two groups. The annular group had an air-bone gap which was nearly constant for all the frequencies. In the diffuse otosclerosis group, the air-bone gap was more prominent in the low frequencies and it decreased at higher frequencies. No difference was noted in bone-conduction thresholds, and Carhart notch between the two groups. This study demonstrated that a large air-bone gap in patients with conductive hearing loss may be a sign of diffuse obliterative otosclerosis. This may warn the surgeon that a more challenging surgery is possible, and the patient may have a less favorable hearing result. Therefore, in the presence of a large air-bone gap, it may be appropriate to inform the patient of the strong possibility of diffuse otosclerosis.

¿Qué sabemos de otoesclerosis? aspectos anatomopatológicos / What do we know about otosclerosis? anatomo-pathological aspects

La otoesclerosis es una enfermedad que produce hipoacusia de conducción por un proceso de remodelación ósea denominado otoespongiosis. Se han estudiado aspectos anatomopatológicos para evaluar el foco de inicio, y las características de este proceso llamado otoespongiosis. Nos motivó a realizar este estudio el deseo de conocer qué pasaba en nuestra población, clasificar las observaciones anatomopatológicas, relacionar estos aspectos microscópicos con aspectos clínicos como: tiempo de evolución clínica y aspecto macroscópico de la platina. Para esto se realizó un estudio prospectivo tomando todos los pacientes operados de estapedostomía en el Hospital Clínico de la Universidad de Chile desde octubre 2003 a octubre 2004. Fueron un total de 22 pacientes que se agruparon en 4 subgrupos según su aspecto anatomopatológico. Este estudio mostró que la otoesclerosis es más frecuente en mujeres en la quinta década de vida, en el oído derecho y presenta un tiempo de evolución clínica promedio de 7 años, que no varía con el grado de otoespongiosis de la supraestructura del estribo. Se observó un 45 por ciento de otoespongiosis en los huesecillos estudiados, aspecto no descrito en la bibliografía. No se observó correlación entre el aspecto microscópico y macroscópico de la platina, lo que sugiere otros focos de otoespongiosis o un avance rápido desde la fissula antefenestra a las cruras del estribo. Se continuará este estudio aumentando la muestra y realizando un seguimiento a los pacientes para relacionar el resultado anatomopatológico y el resultado auditivo post-estapedostomía.

Far advanced otosclerosis: stapes surgery or cochlear implantation?

OBJECTIVE: Nowadays, two surgical alternatives are to be considered in patients with far advanced otosclerosis: stapedectomy and cochlear implantation. The aim of this study was to analyze and compare the hearing and communicative results obtained in two groups of patients affected with far advanced otosclerosis, who were treated with the two different surgical procedures, to assess the proper surgical approach for these patients. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTINGS: University hospital and referral audiologic centre. METHODS: We submitted 11 adult patients, affected by far advanced otosclerosis and exhibiting unsatisfactory communicative abilities with hearing aids, to two different procedures: 5 to cochlear implantation, and 6 to stapedotomy followed by hearing aid fitting. The benefits afforded by the two procedures were assessed by means of pure-tone audiometry and speech audiometry in an open field and by means of a speech perception test. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Hearing and communicative outcomes, measured 1 year after intervention. RESULTS: The results achieved in the patients subjected to stapedotomy were unpredictable and variable: very good in some cases but unsatisfactory in others, whereas those who had cochlear implantation all achieved satisfactory results with regard to speech recognition. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who underwent cochlear implantation achieved better hearing and communicative results than those who underwent stapedotomy. Even if the number of patients reported in this study is too small to provide definitive results, and despite the reportedly better results afforded by cochlear implantation, in our opinion, correction of far advanced otosclerosis should first be attempted via stapedotomy, and cochlear implantation should instead be reserved for cases in which stapedotomy is unsuccessful or for which imaging techniques unequivocally reveal a fenestral or cochlear obstruction.

Cochlear ossification after meningitis.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the pathologic processes that result in ossification of the cochlear lumen after bacterial meningitis. STUDY DESIGN: The study design was a retrospective case review. SETTING: The study was conducted at a tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: Profoundly deaf postmeningitic patients who underwent cochlear implantation were studied. INTERVENTIONS: Diagnostic and therapeutic observations were performed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The extent of cochlear ossification is classified and related to age at which infection occurred, cerebrospinal fluid leukocyte count, Gram's stain, organism, and delay between meningitis and implantation. The extent of ossification noted on high-definition computed tomographic (CT) scan is compared with surgical findings and related to the time delays between meningitis, imaging, and surgery. RESULTS: Ossification fell into three groups: gross ossification of the scala tympani and variable amounts of the scala vestibuli; partial ossification localized to the basal turn of the scala tympani; and no ossification. There was no correlation between the extent of ossification and the age when infected, type of pathogen, cerebrospinal fluid leukocyte count, and time delay between meningitis and implantation. Visualization of bacteria on Gram's stain was a highly sensitive measure of ossification (0.93) but was not specific (0.6) with positive and negative predictive values of 0.76 and 0.86, respectively. High-definition CT underestimated the extent of ossification in 50% of cases when performed within 6 months of meningitis. CONCLUSIONS: Ossification is either gross or localized to the basal turn of the scala tympani. If ossification does occur, it is rapid and complete within a few months of infection. The visualization of bacteria on Gram's stain is a sensitive indicator for the presence of ossification but has low specificity. High-definition CT, if performed within the first 6 months of meningitis, can be an inaccurate diagnostic tool and therefore should be performed as close to the date of surgery as possible.