Estimation of Cochlear Implant Insertion Depth Using 2D-3D Registration of Postoperative X-Ray and Preoperative CT Images.

OBJECTIVE: To improve estimation of cochlear implant (CI) insertion depth in postoperative skull x-rays using synthesized information from preoperative CT scans. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort. SETTING: Tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: Ten adult cochlear implant recipients with preoperative and postoperative temporal bone computed tomography (CT)scans and postoperative skull x-ray imaging. INTERVENTIONS: Postoperative x-rays and digitally reconstructed radiographs (DRR) from preoperative CTs were registered using 3D Slicer and MATLAB to enhance localization of the round window and modiolus. Angular insertion depth (AID) was estimated in unmodified and registration-enhanced x-rays and DRRs in the cochlear view. Linear insertion depth (LID) was estimated in registered images by two methods that localized the proximal CI electrode or segmented the cochlea. Ground truth assessments were made in postoperative CTs. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Errors of insertion depth estimates were calculated relative to ground truth measurements and compared with paired t t ests. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to assess inter-rater reliability of two reviewer's measurements of AID in unmodified x-rays. RESULTS: In postoperative x-rays, AID estimation errors were similar with and without registration enhancement (-1.3 ± 20.7° and -4.8 ± 24.9°, respectively; mean ± SD; p = 0.6). AID estimation in unmodified x-rays demonstrated strong interrater agreement (ρ = 0.79, p < 0.05) and interrater differences (-15.0 ± 35.3°) comparable to estimate errors. Registering images allowed measurement of AID in the cochlear view with estimation errors of 14.6 ± 30.6° and measurement of LID, with estimate errors that were similar between proximal electrode localization and cochlear segmentation methods (-0.9 ± 2.2 mm and -2.1 ± 2.7 mm, respectively; p = 0.3). CONCLUSIONS: 2D-3D image registration allows measurement of AID in the cochlear view and LID using postoperative x-rays and preoperative CT imaging. The use of this technique may reduce the need for postimplantation CT studies to assess these metrics of CI electrode position. Further work is needed to improve the accuracy of AID assessment in the postoperative x-ray view with registered images compared with established methods.

Fully Automated Measurement of Cochlear Duct Length From Clinical Temporal Bone Computed Tomography.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: To present and validate a novel fully automated method to measure cochlear dimensions, including cochlear duct length (CDL). STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: The computational method combined 1) a deep learning (DL) algorithm to segment the cochlea and otic capsule and 2) geometric analysis to measure anti-modiolar distances from the round window to the apex. The algorithm was trained using 165 manually segmented clinical computed tomography (CT). A Testing group of 159 CTs were then measured for cochlear diameter and width (A- and B-values) and CDL using the automated system and compared against manual measurements. The results were also compared with existing approaches and historical data. In addition, pre- and post-implantation scans from 27 cochlear implant recipients were studied to compare predicted versus actual array insertion depth. RESULTS: Measurements were successfully obtained in 98.1% of scans. The mean CDL to 900° was 35.52 mm (SD, 2.06; range, [30.91-40.50]), the mean A-value was 8.88 mm (0.47; [7.67-10.49]), and mean B-value was 6.38 mm (0.42; [5.16-7.38]). The R2 fit of the automated to manual measurements was 0.87 for A-value, 0.70 for B-value, and 0.71 for CDL. For anti-modiolar arrays, the distance between the imaged and predicted array tip location was 0.57 mm (1.25; [0.13-5.28]). CONCLUSION: Our method provides a fully automated means of cochlear analysis from clinical CTs. The distribution of CDL, dimensions, and cochlear quadrant lengths is similar to those from historical data. This approach requires no radiographic experience and is free from user-related variation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3 Laryngoscope, 132:449-458, 2022.

Influence of electrode to cochlear duct length ratio on post-operative speech understanding outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether the pre-operative electrode to cochlear duct length ratio (ECDLR), is associated with post-operative speech recognition outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective chart review study. SETTING: Tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: The study included sixty-one adult CI recipients with a pre-operative computed tomography scan and a speech recognition test 12 months after implantation. INTERVENTIONS: The average of two raters' cochlear duct length (CDL) measurements and the length of the recipient's cochlear implant electrode array formed the basis for the electrode-to-cochlear duct length ratio (ECLDR). Speech recognition tests were compared as a function of ECDLR and electrode array length itself. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The relationship between ECDLR and percent correct on speech recognition tests. RESULTS: A second order polynomial regression relating ECDLR to percent correct on the CNC words speech recognition test was statistically significant, as was a fourth order polynomial regression for the AzBio Quiet test. In contrast, there was no statistically significant relationship between speech recognition scores and electrode array length. CONCLUSIONS: ECDLR values can be statistically associated to speech-recognition outcomes. However, these ECDLR values cannot be predicted by the electrode length alone, and must include a measure of CDL.

Trends in Use and Timing of Intratympanic Corticosteroid Injections for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss.

OBJECTIVE: Oral corticosteroids are treatment mainstays for idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL). Recent studies suggest that intratympanic (IT) steroid injections may be effective as an alternate or adjunctive therapy. We sought to investigate nationwide trends in treatment patterns for SSNHL. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cross-sectional study. SETTING: A large nationwide health care claims database spanning 2007 to 2016. METHODS: Patients with SSNHL were identified from the IBM Watson Health MarketScan Database. Multivariable logistic, linear, and Cox regression were used for demographic- and comorbidity-adjusted analyses. RESULTS: Overall, 19,670 patients were included. Between 2007 and 2016, use of oral corticosteroids alone decreased (83.6% to 64.6%, P < .001), while use of IT corticosteroids alone and combination IT-oral corticosteroids increased (IT only, 7.9% to 15.1%, P = .002; IT-oral, 8.5% to 20.4%, P < .001). During the study period, time to treatment initiation decreased for both administration modalities, though more dramatically for IT corticosteroids (IT, 124.0 to 10.6 days, P < .001; oral, 42.6 to 12.7 days, P < .001). In patients receiving both IT and oral corticosteroids, concurrent first-line use increased (25.2% to 52.8%, P < .001). Repeat injections have also become more common but may raise risk of persistent tympanic membrane perforations (vs no injection; hazard ratio [first injection] = 7.95, 95% CI = 5.54-11.42; hazard ratio [fifth or higher injection] = 17.47, 95% CI = 6.93-44.05). CONCLUSION: SSNHL management increasingly involves early IT steroids as an alternative or adjunctive option to oral steroids. Use of repeat IT corticosteroid injections has also increased but may raise risk of persistent tympanic membrane perforations and subsequent tympanoplasty. Future decision analysis and cost-effectiveness studies are necessary to identify an optimal care pattern for SSNHL.

National Trends in Opioid Prescriptions Following Outpatient Otologic Surgery, 2005-2017.

OBJECTIVE: To describe opioid stewardship in ambulatory otologic surgery from 2005 to 2017. STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive study of US private insurance claims. SETTING: Nationwide deidentified private insurance claims database (Clinformatics DataMart; Optum). METHODS: A total of 17,431 adult opioid-naïve outpatients were included in the study. Patients were identified from CPT-4 codes (Current Procedural Terminology, Fourth Edition) as having undergone middle ear or mastoid surgery. Multiple regression was used to determine sociodemographic and geographic predictors of postoperative morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs) prescribed, including procedure type, year of procedure, age, sex, education, income level, and geographic region of the United States. RESULTS: The mean prescribed perioperative dose over the examined period was 203.03 MMEs (95% CI, 200.27-205.79; 5-mg hydrocodone pill equivalents, 40.61). In multivariate analysis, patients undergoing mastoid surgery were prescribed more opioids than those undergoing middle ear surgery (mean difference, 39.89 MME [95% CI, 34.37-45.41], P < .01; 5-mg hydrocodone pill equivalents, 8.0). Men were prescribed higher doses than women (mean difference, 15.39 [95% CI, 9.87-20.90], P < .01; 5-mg hydrocodone pill equivalents, 3.1). Overall MMEs prescribed by year demonstrates a sharp drop in MMEs from 2015 to 2017. CONCLUSION: While the amount of opioids prescribed perioperatively has declined in recent years, otologists should continue to be cognizant of potential overprescribing in light of previous studies of patients' relatively low opioid intake.

Assessment of Inter- and Intra-Rater Reliability of Tablet-Based Software to Measure Cochlear Duct Length.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to build upon previous work validating a tablet-based software to measure cochlear duct length (CDL). Here, we do so by greatly expanding the number of cochleae (n = 166) analyzed, and examined whether computed tomography (CT) slice thickness influences reliability of CDL measurements. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart review study. SETTING: Tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: Eighty-three adult cochlear implant recipients were included in the study. Both cochleae were measured for each patient (n = 166). INTERVENTIONS: Three raters analyzed the scans of 166 cochleae at 2 different time points. Each rater individually identified anatomical landmarks that delineated the basal turn diameter and width. These coordinates were applied to the elliptic approximation method (ECA) to estimate CDL. The effect of CT scan slice thickness on the measurements was explored. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measure is the strength of the inter- and intra-rater reliability. RESULTS: The mean CDL measured was 32.84 ±â€Š2.03 mm, with a range of 29.03 to 38.07 mm. We observed no significant relationship between slice thickness and CDL measurement (F1,164 = 3.04; p = 0.08). The mean absolute difference in CDL estimations between raters was 1.76 ±â€Š1.24 mm and within raters was 0.263 ±â€Š0.200 mm. The intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) between raters was 0.54 and ranged from 0.63 to 0.83 within raters. CONCLUSIONS: This software produces reliable measurements of CDL between and within raters, regardless of CT scan thickness.

Opioid Prescribing Patterns Following Pediatric Tonsillectomy in the United States, 2009-2017.

OBJECTIVES: Assess national trends in opioid prescription following pediatric tonsillectomy: 1) overall percentage receiving opioids and mean quantity, 2) changes during 2009-2017, and 3) determinants of prescription patterns. METHODS: Cross-sectional analysis using 2009-2017 Optum claims data to identify opioid-naïve children aged 1-18 with claims codes for tonsillectomy (n = 82,842). Quantities of opioids filled in outpatient pharmacies during the perioperative period were extracted and converted into milligram morphine equivalents (MMEs) for statistical comparison. Demographic, clinical, and socioeconomic predictors of opioid fill rate and quantity were determined using regression analyses. RESULTS: In 2009, 83.3% of children received opioids, decreasing to 58.3% by 2017. Rates of all-cause readmissions and post-tonsillectomy hemorrhages were similar over time. Mean quantity received was 153.47MME (95% confidence intervals [95%CI]: 151.19, 155.76) and did not significantly change during 2009-2017. Opioids were more likely in older children and those with higher household income, but less likely in children with obstructive sleep apnea, other comorbidities, and Hispanic race. Higher quantities of opioids were more likely in older children, while lower quantities were associated with female sex, Hispanic race, and higher household income. Outpatient steroids were prescribed to 8.04% of patients, who were less likely to receive opioids. CONCLUSION: While the percentage of children receiving post-tonsillectomy opioids decreased during 2009-2017, prescribed quantities remain high and have not decreased over time. Prescription practices were also influenced by clinical and sociodemographic factors. These results highlight the need for guidance, particularly with regard to opioid quantity, in children after tonsillectomy. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: N/A Laryngoscope, 131:E1722-E1729, 2021.