Objectives: 1) To present a technique for implanting the Med-EI Combi 40+™ using a small incision with minimal access. 2) To describe the short term postsurgical outcomes in these patients. Methods: Two patients (1 child and 1 adult) underwent a novel small incision technique for implantation of the Med-EI Combi 40+™ cochlear implant device. The short term outcomes in these two patients were described and compared with previous experience using the standard implantation technique citing advantages and possible limitations. As these two patients had bilateral implantation utilizing different techniques on the two sides interesting comparisons could be made on the same individuals. Results: The preliminary experience with a novel small incision technique for the Med-EI Combi 40+™ implantation shows encouraging results in terms of healing and initial performance of these patients. Conclusion: This small incision technique may be offered to patients especially to those who wish to have bilateral implantations as this allows a less invasive approach, good cosmesis without sacrificing the safety and performance outcomes at least in the short term. (Author)
COCHLEAR IMPLANTATION SURGERY OTOLOGIC SURGICAL PROCEDURES

Humans ; Microsurgery ; Otologic Surgical Procedures

OBJECTIVE: Dissecting adult cadaver's tragal cartilage and researching its clinical application in ear surgery. METHOD: Dissect the bilateral tragal cartilage of 22 adult cadavers immersed in formalin (both of male and female are 11). Measure and compute the average value of the length, width, thickness and area. Summarize autologous tragal cartilage's clinical application in ear surgery. RESULT: The statistic values of male tragal cartilage were: length (22.55 ± 0.89) mm, width (19.00 ± 1.09) mm, thickness (1.04 ± 0.09) mm, and area (315.70 ± 32.57) mm2. The statistic values of female respectively were (19.36 ± 0.86) mm, (15.73 ± 0.69) mm, (0.93 ± 0.06) mm, and (229.64 ± 13.97) mm2. Tragal cartilages were utilized in 419 middle ear surgeries in my department, including tympanoplasty(type I 189 cases, type II and III 116 cases), atticotomy (65 cases), and the repair of the lateral skull base (3 cases). The postoperative effect was satisfactory. CONCLUSION Tragal cartilage is in the operation region, which is convenient to be harvested and shaped. Hence, the donor can satisfy the requirement of general ear surgery and it is suitable for widely application in ear surgery.
Adult ; Cadaver ; Cartilage ; anatomy & histology ; Ear Auricle ; anatomy & histology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Otologic Surgical Procedures ; Tympanoplasty

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical outcomes of two surgical techniques-modified Bondy technique and canal wall up mastoidectomy with tympanoplasty type I and scutumplasty (CWUM/T1)-to remove attic cholesteatoma while preserving ossicular chain intact. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: A retrospective study was performed on 23 surgical cases for the attic cholesteatoma with postoperative audiometry data of more than six months after surgery. The patients' postoperative clinical features and audiometric results were compared between the two surgical groups. RESULTS: Out of 23 patients, CWUM/T1 was performed in 13 cases and modified Bondy technique was used in 10 cases. There were no significant differences for the preoperative and postoperative audiograms between the two groups. But air-bone gap increased significantly after CWUM/T1 while it decreased after modified Bondy technique. Three cases with postoperative problems were seen after CWUM/T1 (recurrent cholesteatoma, pars tensa adhesion, recurrent otitis media with effusion). Two cases with postoperative problems were found after modified Bondy technique (mild attic retraction, pars tensa retraction). CONCLUSION: Both surgical techniques seem to be adequate to treat attic cholesteatoma while preserving intact ossicular chain. Given good postoperative hearing results and stability of open cavity against recidivism, the modified Bondy technique seems to be a good choice for the attic cholesteatoma with intact ossicular chain when mastoid is not highly pneumatized.
Audiometry ; Cholesteatoma* ; Hearing ; Humans ; Mastoid ; Methods ; Otitis Media ; Otologic Surgical Procedures ; Retrospective Studies ; Tympanoplasty*

Ear, Middle ; surgery ; Humans ; Otologic Surgical Procedures

Ear, Middle ; surgery ; Otologic Surgical Procedures

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of the canalplasty for inlay myringoplasty. METHOD: A retrospective study was performed on 125 patients (130 ears) who underwent canalplasty and myringoplasty for the treatment of the chronic otitis media. The postauricular incisions was made, then the separation of the flap of posterior canal skin and the tympanic membrane epithelium, mill addition to part of the canal bone of the top, bottom, behind. Lift forward on the anterior canal skin, until the formation of the external auditory canal skin tube. Metal sheets was used to protect the skin tube, mill addition to the prominent bone of the anterior canal, reveal the tympanic anulus fully. Explore the ossicular chain activities, fascia covering the canal and fiber layer surface of the drum remnant was used as an inlay graft, and the canal skin was replaced. The canal was filled with hemostatic gauze and hemostatic sponge. Stitches a week after surgery. Removal of filling material in the external auditory canal two weeks after surgery, and re-filling with sterile gauze until healed. RESULT: All 125 patients had successful grafts with 100% survival rate and healed in stage I. Average improvement in air-bone gap for all patients was 8.9 dB. Stenosis of the external auditory canal and lateralization of the grafted drum did not occur. Follow-up was conducted for 1-3 years. Three ears had reperforation and eight ears had late atelectasis. Fifteen ears had myringitis and healed by halometasone cream. CONCLUSION Canalplasty is an important surgical procedure on inlay myringoplasty. It can make the narrow and curved canal to large, eliminate the prominent bone of the anterior wall, expose the perforation edge fully, further facilitate the survival of the graft and post-operative care.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Ear, External ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myringoplasty ; methods ; Otitis Media, Suppurative ; surgery ; Otologic Surgical Procedures ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Tympanosclerosis is a nonspecific and irreversible result of chronic inflammation or infection of the middle ear. However, there remains disagreement about how best to surgically treat tympanosclerotic ossicular fixation, with the controversy over its management when stapes is involved. The aim of this study was to evaluate operative findings and hearing results of tympanosclerosis involving the ossicular chain, which in turn would establish better surgical treatment of tympanosclerotic ossicular fixation. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In this prospective study conducted from Mar 2000 to Dec 2007, 38 patients with tympanosclerosis who had undergone surgical treatment were evaluated. The clinical and operational records and pre- and postoperative pure tone audiograms were reviewed. RESULTS: Operative findings showed stapes fixation is the most common. In 8 patients (21.1%), stapes was mobile, while, in the remaining 30 patients (78.9%), stapes fixation was found. In all cases with stapes fixation, stapes mobilization was possible. Following hearing result reporting guideline by the Korean Otological Society, the success rate of middle ear surgery was 68.4% (26 of 38 patients). In cases with stapes fixation, the success rate was 66.6% (20 of 30 patients), while, in cases with no stapes fixation, the success rate was 75.0% (6 of 8 patients). However, there was no statistical significance between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Stapes fixation was found in 78.9% of tympanosclerotic ossicular fixation. In management of tympanosclerotic stapes fixation, meticulous excision of tympanosclerotic plaques and removal of new bone formation around stapes footplate after adequate exposure could achieve a relatively good hearing result without stapes surgery.
Ear, Middle ; Hearing ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Myringosclerosis ; Ossicular Replacement ; Osteogenesis ; Prospective Studies ; Stapes ; Stapes Mobilization ; Stapes Surgery

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) is a common infectious disease in childhood of poor hygiene group. In addition, in industrialized countries, with rising popularity of tympanostomy tubes for management of otitis media with effusion, CSOM is a potential problem in any child who had inserted ventilating tubes previously. Hearing loss following CSOM can negatively affect learning, speech, and cognitive function, so effective and timely management of CSOM is mandatory. The surgical procedure may be necessary in some children with CSOM, but when it is performed at a too early age, there might be more chances of recurrence than adults. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Used in the study were 51 ears from patients who received tympanomastoidectomy due to CSOM in tertiary referral center from 1995 through 2004. The mean age was 9 years and 6 months. Cholesteatoma was found in 30 cases (58.8%). Age at operation, hearing outcomes, and the surgical results were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Canal wall down mastoidectomy was performed in 23 cases and canal wall up procedure in 28 cases. Revision surgery was performed in 9 cases (17.6%) and mean duration between first and revision surgery was 27 months. In the cases of cholesteatoma, the rate of revision surgery was different between under 6 years old and over 7 years old group (p=.045). The age at 1st operation and postoperative hearing outcome had no correlation. CONCLUSION: Since the1st operation is performed earlier, the rate of revision may increase, especially in cases of cholesteatoma.
Adult ; Child ; Cholesteatoma ; Communicable Diseases ; Developed Countries ; Ear ; Hearing ; Hearing Loss ; Humans ; Hygiene ; Learning ; Middle Ear Ventilation ; Otitis Media ; Otitis Media with Effusion ; Otitis Media, Suppurative* ; Otologic Surgical Procedures ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Tertiary Care Centers

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the surgical technique of the pericanal electrode insertion technique for ies cochlear implantation. METHOD: Forty cases of sensorineural deafness were subjected to the ies cochlear implants. Cochleostomy was performed through the external auditory canal with a microdrill anterior to the round window. The electrode impedance and electrically auditory brainstem responses(EABR) were tested during the operation. The X-ray photographs were taken after the operation. The cochlear implant was activated in all 40 cases 4 weeks following surgery. RESULT: All of the electrodes were inserted and all of the implants worked well. No electrode extrusions or serious surgical complications happened during postoperative observation for 6 months. CONCLUSION The pericanal electrode insertion technique is a safe approach for ies cochlear implantation.
Child, Preschool ; Cochlear Implantation ; methods ; Cochlear Implants ; Ear Canal ; surgery ; Female ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; surgery ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Otologic Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Subcutaneous Tissue ; surgery