Intra-operative identification of a temporal bone fracture line during cochlear implant surgery: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Temporal bone fractures are divided into otic capsule sparing and otic capsule involving fractures. In the latter, hearing loss, facial nerve paralysis, cerebrospinal fluid leak and meningitis have been reported to occur. The impact of hearing loss can be devastating, especially when occurring in children, with significant risk to speech development and sound localization. In the event of hearing loss, early rehabilitation is therefore of paramount importance. Identification of an intra-operative fracture line with available images and the outcome of such cases has not been reported. CASE PRESENTATION: We present the case of a 31-month-old male with an otic capsule involving temporal bone fracture, who presented with ipsilateral profound hearing loss. After all required work-up had been performed, he was admitted for a cochlear implant insertion. Per- operatively, a clear fracture line was seen at the round window niche, but a normal insertion was performed despite the anticipated potential ossification at the fracture line. The dreaded complications of cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea or non-auditory stimulation post-implant did not occur. The peculiarity of this case was its rarity, which was demonstrated by clear images that showed the fracture line on preoperative imaging and intraoperatively. CONCLUSION: Cochlear implantation in the presence of a visible fracture line is feasible and the surgical procedure must not be aborted at its discovery. In these cases, post-operative bacterial meningitis can occur and should be treated aggressively with systemic antibiotics to avoid contralateral ossification of the labyrinth due to labyrinthitis.

[COCHLEAR IMPLANTATION FOR PATIENTS WITH CONSERVATIVELY TREATED VESTIBULAR SCHWANNOMA].

INTRODUCTION: Vestibular Schwannoma, a benign slow growing tumor on the eight cranial nerve, will eventually cause in most patients, a severe sensory neural hearing loss in the ipsilateral ear. Patients with asymmetric hearing loss experience difficulties in hearing in the presence of noise, in sound localization and an increase in listening effort, especially if contralateral hearing loss exists. Cochlear implant is the treatment of choice for hearing rehabilitation in severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss. This treatment was shown to be effective in patients with vestibular schwannoma whether they were treated by surgery, radiation or conservative surveillance only. In this case report we present 2 patients with stable growth of over 10 years, who presented with a severe decrease in hearing loss on the ipsilateral side and a known contralateral moderate loss. Both underwent cochlear implant with no other intervention and demonstrated great speech perception results and continue to use the implant regularly for several years. The cochlear implant is an effective tool for hearing rehabilitation for patients with a stable vestibular schwannoma under conservative surveillance. It is of grave importance to properly educate these patients on hearing rehabilitation and recommend cochlear implant for appropriate patients.

Infections caused by Fusobacterium in children: a 14-year single-center experience.

PURPOSE: This study aimed at reviewing our experience with infections caused by Fusobacterium in children. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of medical records of children admitted to Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center from 2000 to 2013, in whom Fusobacterium spp. was identified in any specimen. RESULTS: A total of 22 patients (males = 12) at a mean ± SE age of 5 ± 1 (range 1-17) years, were identified. The most common complication was abscess formation (n = 11, 50 %). Eight children (36.4 %) had intracranial complications, including brain abscess (n = 4), meningitis (n = 4) and cerebral sinus vein thrombosis (CSVT, n = 5). Seventeen children (77 %) had bacteremia. Primary site of infection was otogenic (n = 9), oropharyngeal (n = 7), respiratory (n = 2), sinuses (n = 2), intra-abdominal (n = 1) and mucositis (n = 1). Fourteen cases were caused by Fusobacterium necrophorum, including four cases with CSVT, 7/8 cases of mastoiditis, four of them with subperiosteal abscess formation; all four cases with meningitis and two brain abscesses. Fifteen (68 %) patients required surgical intervention and 3 (14 %) received anti-coagulation therapy. Excluding one patient with overwhelming sepsis with fatal outcome, all patients recovered. CONCLUSIONS: Fusobacterium infections in children can cause a diverse spectrum of disease and is associated with high rates of abscess formation and intracranial complications. Although Fusobacterium nucleatum is abundant in the oral cavity, F. necrophorum is the main pathogen that causes severe infections in healthy children.

[The effect of steroid therapy on post adenotonsillectomy recovery].

BACKGROUND: Previous studies on dexamethasone's antiemetic and antinflammatory potential in patients undergoing adenotonsillectomy have produced conflicting results. OBJECTIVES: To determine the effect of intraoperative I.V. single dose dexamethasone on recovery and complications after adenotonsillitis while anesthesia techniques, surgical techniques and perioperative treatment are standardized. DESIGN: Prospective randomized, controlled study. METHODS: A total of 230 patients aged 2-16 years undergoing elective adenotonsillectomy enrolled in the study. Patients were randomly assigned to receive i.v. dexamethasone 0.5 mg/kg (study group), or no treatment (control group). Pain score, emesis, oral intake and bleeding were assessed on the first and tenth postoperative day. RESULTS: Overall, 204 completed the study, 101 in the study group, 103 in the control group. It was found that intraoperative single I.V. dexamethasone significantly reduces emesis during the first postoperative day (P < 0.0001), significantly reduces pain score on the first (P < 0.0001), and tenth postoperative day (P = 0.053), significantly increases the number of patients returning to soft diet on the first postoperative day (P = 0.0002) and normal diet on the tenth postoperative day (P < 0.0001). No significant difference in bleeding tendency between the two groups was noted (P = 0.7202). CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative injection of I.V. dexamethasone 0.5 mg/kg effectively reduced post adenotonsillectomy morbidity.