Habituation of changed acoustics properties after canal wall down mastoidectomy.

PURPOSE: Our objective is to evaluate the effect of habituation on the altered ear canal acoustics after canal wall down mastoidectomy. METHODS: A total of 11 participants with single sided dry cavities and normal contralateral ear canals with normal hearing thresholds were included in the study. Filtered sound fragments were created that simulate the different acoustic properties based on the participants Real Ear to Coupler Difference (RECD) of the cavity ear and the contralateral normal ear canal. These filtered sound fragments are presented to the cavity ear canal and the contralateral normal ear canal using inserts earphones. Participants performed a subjective quality assessment of the sound fragments using paired comparison with a seven-point scale (- 3 till + 3). RESULTS: Mean assessment of sound quality revealed the following results; naturalness of sounds of the cavity ear canal is 0.29 (± 1.41; ns) in favour of the filtered sound fragment of the normal ear canal. Mean assessment of sharpness of sounds in the cavity ear canal is 1.55 (± 1.21, p = 0.55) in favour of the filtered sound fragment of the normal ear canal. Overall preference in the cavity ear canal was in favour of the normal ear canal acoustics 0.72 (SD ± 1.54 p = 0.224). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with cavity ear canals seem to habituate to their altered ear canal acoustics. Transforming the ear canal acoustics of the cavity ear to normal ear canal acoustics seem to sharpen the incoming sounds. Overall assessment of quality of sound of the normal ear canal acoustics is better than the cavity acoustics.

A volumetric three-dimensional evaluation of invasiveness of an endoscopic and microscopic approach for transmeatal visualisation of the middle ear.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the necessary scutum defect for transmeatal visualisation of middle-ear landmarks between an endoscopic and microscopic approach. METHOD: Human cadaveric heads were used. In group 1, middle-ear landmarks were visualised by endoscope (group 1 endoscopic approach) and subsequently by microscope (group 1 microscopic approach following endoscopy). In group 2, landmarks were visualised solely microscopically (group 2 microscopic approach). The amount of resected bone was evaluated via computed tomography scans. RESULTS: In the group 1 endoscopic approach, a median of 6.84 mm3 bone was resected. No statistically significant difference (Mann-Whitney U test, p = 0.163, U = 49.000) was found between the group 1 microscopic approach following endoscopy (median 17.84 mm3) and the group 2 microscopic approach (median 20.08 mm3), so these were combined. The difference between the group 1 endoscopic approach and the group 1 microscopic approach following endoscopy plus group 2 microscopic approach (median 18.16 mm3) was statistically significant (Mann-Whitney U test, p < 0.001, U = 18.000). CONCLUSION: This study showed that endoscopic transmeatal visualisation of middle-ear landmarks preserves more of the bony scutum than a microscopic transmeatal approach.

Can we predict the altered subjective quality assessment of sound after ear canal surgery?

PURPOSE: To correlate the subjective quality assessment of ear canal acoustics of the participants to the objective measurement of the ear canal acoustics. The objective ear canal acoustics is the frequency-dependent modulation of soundwaves through the ear canal. Our second objective is to design a model to predict the subjective quality of sound based on the altered objective ear canal acoustics. METHODS: To determine the frequency-dependent modulation of the soundwaves the real-ear unaided gain (REUG) of the ear canal is measured. 40 participants with normal hearing were presented six simulated sound fragments representing the acoustic properties of six different ear canals (REUG). These six sound fragments were built based on the difference between these six REUGs and the average REUG of a normal adult ear canal. Subjective sound quality was evaluated using a VAS score and a paired comparison score. RESULTS: We found a strong correlation between the objective ear canal acoustics and the subjective assessment of the quality of sound (Spearman's rho-0.89). Our linear mixed VAS model for individual participants has an intercept of 95.6 and a slope of - 4.2 (p < 0.001). The paired comparison analysis endorsed our findings that an increased difference in REUG is predictive for a decreased quality assessment of ear canal acoustics. CONCLUSION: There is a strong correlation between the subjective evaluation of ear canal acoustics and the objective quality assessment of ear canal acoustics. Our models show that an increased difference in REUG predicts a decreased quality of ear canal acoustics.

The learning curve for endoscopic tympanoplasties: a single-institution experience, in Birmingham, UK.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess whether increasing operative experience results in better surgical outcomes in endoscopic middle-ear surgery. METHODS: A retrospective single-institution cohort study was performed. Patients underwent endoscopic tympanoplasty between May 2013 and April 2019 performed by the senior surgeon or a trainee surgeon under direct supervision from the senior surgeon. Following data collection, statistical analysis compared success rates between early (learning curve) surgical procedures and later (experienced) tympanoplasties. RESULTS: In total, 157 patients (86 male, 71 female), with a mean age of 41.6 years, were included. The patients were followed up for an average of 43.2 weeks. The overall primary closure rate was 90.0 per cent. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates an early learning curve for endoscopic ear surgery that improves with surgical experience. Adoption of the endoscopic technique did not impair the success rates of tympanoplasty.

Clinimetric evaluation and clinical outcomes of the Dutch version of the Chronic Ear Survey.

BACKGROUND: To validate and evaluate the reliability of the Dutch version of the Chronic Ear Survey (CES) in patients suffering from Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media (CSOM) and to evaluate clinical outcomes of surgery using this questionnaire. METHODS: We developed the Dutch version of the CES (D-CES) using forward-backward translation of the original CES into the Dutch language. Next, patients with CSOM and controls completed the D-CES pre- and postoperatively. Internal consistency, test-retest reliability, known-group validity and convergent validity were evaluated. In addition to the D-CES, the Short Form 36 (SF-36) was administered to all participants to correlate D-CES data to quality of life. RESULTS: A total of 29 patients with CSOM scheduled for ear surgery were included. Our control group consisted of 26 patients scheduled for eye surgery, all without signs and symptoms of CSOM. Cronbachs' α of the complete questionnaire was 0.69. The Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICCs), reflecting test-retest reliability, ranged between 0.69 and 0.82. Scores differed significantly between CSOM patients and controls with substantial lower (more impaired) D-CES scores in the CSOM group. Duration of complaints preoperatively and the presence of a dry ear and/or improvement of hearing postoperatively all had a significant impact on D-CES improvement scores. Small to moderate correlations were found between D-CES subscales and matching subscales of the SF-36. CONCLUSION: The D-CES is an appropriate disease specific questionnaire to assess a patient's perceived functional health in CSOM.

Management of labyrinthine fistula: hearing preservation versus prevention of residual disease.

The objective of the study was to evaluate postoperative hearing and disease control after cholesteatoma surgery for labyrinthine fistulas. In a retrospective cohort study, we evaluated a consecutive cohort comprising 44 patients (45 ears) with labyrinthine fistulas associated with chronic otitis media with cholesteatoma who underwent surgery between 2002 and 2015. We looked at patient characteristics, pre- and postoperative bone conduction thresholds (BCT), operative approach and findings, extent of disease and the occurrence of residual disease. All deaf ears (24%) presented preoperatively with a large fistula. Opening the membranous labyrinth resulted in significantly worse postoperative BCT (p = 0.01). Neither the present study nor a literature search revealed a significant positive effect of corticosteroids on postoperative hearing preservation. Large fistulas were correlated with poorer preoperative BCTs, but not with poorer postoperative BCTs. Opening the membranous labyrinth during surgery is correlated with poorer postoperative BCTs and can be seen as a predictive parameter. The use of corticosteroids in the perioperative management of labyrinthine fistula was not found to result in any improvement in postoperative BCTs.

Successful obliteration of troublesome and chronically draining cavities.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the results of revision radical cavity surgery with mastoid obliteration using a standardised grading scheme. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed of 121 patients (122 ears) with chronically draining ears who underwent revision radical cavity surgery with mastoid obliteration between 2007 and 2013. Surgical indications, patient characteristics, pre- and post-operative Merchant grade, and surgical outcomes were recorded. The main outcome measures were presence of a dry ear, time for complete re-epithelialisation, presence of residual or recurrent disease, and need for revision surgery. RESULTS: In the 5-year follow-up group (n = 31), dry ears were found in 97 per cent after 6 minor revisions and cholesteatoma-free ears were found in 97 per cent. In the total cohort, dry ears were found in 93 per cent after nine revisions and cholesteatoma-free ears were found in 98 per cent. The median time for complete re-epithelialisation was eight weeks. There were no major complications. CONCLUSION: In terms of the dry ear rate, residual cholesteatoma and time to complete epithelialisation, revision radical cavity surgery with mastoid obliteration produces very good results in concordance with published results, despite most patients suffering from very troublesome cavities prior to surgery.

Two siblings with progressive, fluctuating hearing loss after head trauma, treated with cochlear implantation.

OBJECTIVE: Description of two siblings with unexplained, progressive, perceptive hearing loss after head trauma. DESIGN: Case report. SUBJECTS: Two siblings aged six and eight years old with bilateral, intermittent but progressive hearing loss. RESULTS: These patients had a c.1172G>A (p.Ser391Asn) mutation in the SLC26A4 gene, which has not previously been reported and which caused Pendred or enlarged vestibular aqueduct syndrome. The diagnosis was based on the perceptive hearing loss, computed tomography findings and mutation analysis. The patients were each fitted with a cochlear implant because of their severe, progressive, perceptive hearing loss with deep fluctuations. The results were good. CONCLUSION: Further testing for the presence of an enlarged vestibular aqueduct is recommended when children present with sudden progression in perceptive hearing loss, whether or not in combination with head trauma. Cochlear implantation is indicated in patients with persistent, progressive hearing loss that leads to deafness. Implantation can be undertaken successfully despite cochlear hypoplasia.