A Case of Middle Ear Implantation Using the Vibrant Soundbridge in a Patient with Bilateral Mixed Hearing Loss.
10.3342/kjorl-hns.2018.00374
- Author:
Yong Gook SHIN
1
;
Ja Won GU
;
Jin Wook KANG
;
Mee Hyun SONG
Author Information
1. Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Myongji Hospital, Goyang, Korea.
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Bell-coupler;
Middle ear implant;
Mixed hearing loss;
Vibrant Soundbridge;
Vibroplasty
- MeSH:
Acoustics;
Cochlea;
Ear;
Ear, Middle*;
Hearing;
Hearing Aids;
Hearing Loss, Mixed Conductive-Sensorineural*;
Hearing Loss, Sensorineural;
Humans;
Ossicular Prosthesis*;
Otitis Media;
Rehabilitation;
Skin;
Transducers
- From:Korean Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
2018;61(12):705-709
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
It is challenging to achieve sufficient hearing gain in patients with mixed hearing loss. In chronic middle ear diseases, conventional passive reconstructive surgeries often result in suboptimal hearing gain and additional hearing aids may have limitations due to insufficient sound amplification, occlusion effect, acoustic feedback, and skin irritation. Middle ear implantation (MEI) using Vibrant Soundbridge (VSB) is another option for auditory rehabilitation in mixed hearing loss as well as sensorineural hearing loss. The floating mass transducer of VSB can be placed on various middle ear structures either directly or using different types of couplers in order to deliver vibratory mechanical energy to the cochlea. We report a patient who presented with bilateral mixed hearing loss due to chronic otitis media and had limitations using conventional hearing aids in the worse hearing ear. The patient was successfully treated with MEI using the Bell coupler together with middle ear surgery in a single step.
