Miriam I. Redleaf

Cochlear implantation in unilateral sudden deafness improves tinnitus and speech comprehension: meta-analysis and systematic review.

Objective In recent years, otologists have begun to place cochlear implants into nonfunctioning ears after sudden unilateral hearing loss. Patients in these trials demonstrate differing degrees of hearing loss in the unimplanted ear. Few studies have examined the role of implantation in patients with normal hearing in the unimplanted ear. To understand if this practice benefits these patients in terms of tinnitus, sound localization, and speech understanding, the available world literature is reviewed. Data Sources MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane databases were searched for publications from database inception to June 1, 2013, without restriction of language. Study Selection A search of multiple medical databases was performed to identify articles reporting cases series of cochlear implantation for unilateral hearing loss. Subjects were included for analysis only if the course of hearing loss was acute and rapidly progressive, if the loss was severe to profound, and if the contralateral ear had normal hearing. Data Extraction and Synthesis Nine appropriate articles were identified, in which 36 patients met our inclusion criteria. Three meta-analyses were performed: of tinnitus (22 patients); of the lowest signal-to-noise ratio, which still allowed 50% sentence understanding (16 patients); and of sentence understanding at a fixed signal-to-noise ratio (12 patients). These found that measures of tinnitus reduction and decreased signal-to-noise ratios to still allow 50% speech discrimination were statistically significantly reduced. Systematic review of subjective changes of tinnitus in 27 patients, speech understanding in 16 patients, and sound localization in 16 patients found 96%, 100%, and 87% were improved, respectively. Conclusion Cochlear implantation in unilateral sudden hearing loss with a normal functioning contralateral ear might prove to be an effective therapy. Tinnitus is reduced as is the signal-to-noise ratio, which still allows 50% speech discrimination. All patients felt that they localized sound better, and most felt that they understood speech better. Further studies should be conducted to compare the success of hearing rehabilitation of cochlear rehabilitation and traditional modalities such as contralateral routing of signal and bone-anchored hearing aids.

Lightning injury of the tympanic membrane

A number of cases of otologic injuries by lightning strikes have been described in the otolaryngological literature. The mechanism of these injuries remains uncertain. We report 3 cases of lightning injury that presented to us. Analysis of these cases suggests that the mechanism of injury is direct conduction of electricity from the scalp to the soft tissues of the external auditory canal to the tympanic membrane. The conduits of the electrical surge are the subcutaneous blood vessels, smaller vessels being damaged more than larger vessels. Since the tympanic membrane central vessels are smaller than the canal vessels, the central area of the tympanic membrane would be most vulnerable, and this is seen clinically. A review of the literature supports this proposed mechanism of injury.

Aminoglycoside ototoxicity: a human temporal bone study.

Objective Hearing loss after aminoglycoside administration has been thought to result primarily from hair cell injury. The purpose of the study was to determine the potential for direct injury of spiral ganglion cells and hair cells in cases of documented human aminoglycoside ototoxicity.

Topical antiseptic mouthwash in oncological surgery of the oral cavity and oropharynx.

A multivariant analysis of the value of the use of a pre-operative topical antiseptic mouthwash to reduce the incidence of post-operative wound complications in 106 consecutive patients undergoing head and neck surgery involving the oral cavity or oropharynx was carried out at the University of Iowa, Department of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery. An oral presentation employing povidone-iodine solution was used for 43 patients. The remaining 63 patients studied received no oral presentation. Unfavourable wound outcome was not associated with age, sex, presence and condition of teeth, or serious pre-existing medical illnesses. A significant correlation was found between post-operative wound breakdown and type of closure, stage of disease, and previous operation or radiotherapy. The use of an oral preparation correlated significantly with favourable wound outcome independent of all other variables (p < 0.01). Our data support the use of a topical antiseptic mouthwash to reduce the incidence of post-operative wound complications in surgery of the oral cavity and oropharynx.

Gustatory otorrhea : Frey's syndrome of the external auditory canal

A case of Freys syndrome of the external auditory canal is reported. The patient presented with unilateral gustatory otorrhea and thickened external auditory canal skin. Histopathologic examination of the canal skin showed sudomotor gland hyperplasia. Symptoms were relieved with canal skin excision and skin graft.

Headache with unilateral pulsatile tinnitus in women can signal dural sinus thrombosis.

Objectives: Dural sinus thrombosis commonly presents with headache, and rarely with tinnitus. These thromboses can progress to neurologic impairment and death. We are sharing recent clinical experiences with these thromboses as they present to the otologist. Methods: We report the presentation, physical examination, and imaging studies of 4 patients. Results: Four women had thrombotic occlusion of the sigmoid sinus. Their only symptoms were focal headache in all 4 patients, and unilateral pulsatile tinnitus in 2 of them. Imaging studies had to be repeated or alternative testing performed in order to conclusively identify the problem. Conclusions: It is important to be vigilant for the possibility of sigmoid sinus thrombosis in women who complain of unilateral head pain or unilateral pulsatile tinnitus. Appropriate imaging must be performed.

Report of endoscopic cochlear implantation

Objectives To report patient outcomes after transcanal endoscopic cochlear implantation for sensorineural hearing loss. Patients Males and female subjects more than 7 years old with sensorineural hearing loss (confirmed with audiologic studies) were selected. CT imaging was used to rule out any anatomic anomalies of the temporal bone. Smaller pediatric patients whose canal might still be growing and who might have a higher incidence of otitis media and otitis externa were excluded. Obese adults whose canal skin was too thick to allow good access down the ear canal were also excluded. Intervention(s) Surgical (therapeutic). Endoscopic cochlear implantation using a transcanal approach. Main Outcome Measure(s) Implant position and function. Postoperative complications specifically related to transcanal approach and use of the endoscope. Results Twenty-five endoscopic cochlear implantations were performed in 24 ears on 11 female and 10 male subjects aged 7–65 years. Eight patients were implanted in Brazil, and 13 patients (17 yr) were implanted in the United States. All implants were fully inserted into the scala tympani, and 24 functioned normally with appropriate thresholds. Mean time of follow-up was 16 months (SD, ±7.2). The chorda tympani was sacrificed in 2 of 25 procedures, 12 EAC/TM tears occurred which healed by the second follow-up visit. No injury to the facial nerve was observed. One postoperative wound infection and 1 otitis externa each resolved with 1 week of antibiotics. Implant array was visible through the EACs skin but not exposed in 6 of 24 ears. Conclusion Endoscopic cochlear implantation may become a viable, safe, and feasible alternative to the standard open transmastoid approach.

Distance from the labyrinthine portion of the facial nerve to the basal turn of the cochlea. Temporal bone histopathologic study.

The middle cranial fossa approach to lesions of the geniculate ganglion and internal auditory canal preserves cochlear function and affords access to the lateral internal auditory canal. The labyrinthine portion of the facial nerve tends to course near the basal turn of the cochlea, just beneath the middle cranial fossa floor, and is usually dissected in this approach. To determine the distance from the labyrinthine portion of the facial nerve to the basal turn of the cochlea, measurements were obtained in the temporal bones of 24 subjects (48 ears) 9 to 76 years of age. These subjects had no history of facial nerve or ear disease, and had normal audiograms. The distances ranged from 0.06 to 0.80 mm, with 21 of 24 right ears (87.5%) showing distances less than the standard size of the smallest diamond drills (0.6 mm), and 18 of 24 (75%) less than 0.5 mm. Incidental note is made of the distance from the geniculate ganglion to the ampulla of the superior semicircular canal, which ranged from 2.06 to 4.88 mm in the 48 specimens. These measurements can serve as guidelines for the surgeon working in the middle cranial fossa.

Indium 111-labeled white blood cell scintigraphy as an unreliable indicator of malignant external otitis resolution

The field of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery has seen many advances in the treatment and prognosis of malignant external otitis (MEO). However, establishing the resolution of the infection remains problematic. A recent report suggests that indium 111-labeled white blood cell scintigraphy may be a reliable and timely indicator of resolution of infection. We present a case of a false-negative white blood cell scan in a patient with persistent MEO. A discussion of this case and a review of the literature illustrate that there continues to be no “gold standard” for establishing MEO resolution.

Disappearing Recurrent Acoustic Neuroma in an Elderly Woman

Acoustic neuromas have been shown to grow more slowly, if at all, in the elderly. Reduction of tumor size has been rarely reported in intracranial masses thought to be acoustic neuromas. We present a biopsy-proven acoustic neuroma that involuted completely during a 4-year period of surveillance. Possible mechanisms of involution are discussed.