[New illuminated spectacles for vestibular diagnosis]. / Eine neue Leuchtbrille zur Vestibularisdiagnostik.

Frenzel's spectacles have been essential tools for the clinical examination of the vestibular system since 1925. However, they may lead to false-negative results because they enable the patient to fixate, or to false-positive results because they induce pseudospontaneous nystagmus. Both pitfalls originate from direct illumination of the patient's eyes, and we propose a new design using indirect illumination.

[Topical anesthesia of the tympanic membrane using DMSO and local anesthetics]. / Oberflächenanästhesie des Trommelfells mit DMSO und Lokalanästhetika.

A solution of 10% cocaine hydrochloride plus 10% water in 80% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) or 5% tetracaine base in pure DMSO was topically applied to the eardrum in 112 and 52 cases respectively. Both preparations induced well-tolerated analgesia suitable for myringotomy with or without insertion of a grommet in the office environment. DMSO-tetracaine induced analgesia within ten, DMSO-cocaine within 30 minutes. This method has distinct advantages as compared to iontophoretically induced analgesia or topical agents with a destructive mode of action.

[Long-term results of gentamycin therapy of Menière's disease]. / Langzeitergebnisse der Gentamicin-Therapie des Morbus Ménière.

During the years 1976 to 1987, 82 patients with Ménière's disease received a tympanoclysis with gentamicin on a daily basis. Dosage was titrated up to the initial symptoms of vestibular or cochlear intoxication. Sixty-four patients filed for a complete follow-up examination; it was possible to interview 15, while three patients were lost. Vertigo was eliminated in 70 (89%) cases. Nine patients (11%) remained disabled, while demonstrating typical paroxysmal positional vertigo in three cases. Speech discrimination improved in 13%, stabilized in 54%, and deteriorated in 33%. Hearing improved significantly better if, preoperatively, there had been low frequency loss rather than a flat audiogram. HALLPIKE's caloric test demonstrated residual vestibular activity in 72 percent. In the author's opinion, tympanoclysis with gentamicin offers a technically simple, riskless, and effective method to rehabilitate patients with disabling Ménière's disease.