Osseointegrated Auditory Devices-Transcutaneous: Sophono and Baha Attract.

Percutaneous osseointegrated bone conduction auditory devices provide excellent auditory rehabilitation. Device-related complications relate to skin abutment interface and cosmetic concerns, resulting in the development of transcutaneous devices. The Sophono and Baha Attract are safe and considered cosmetically superior to the percutaneous Baha Connect and Ponto.

The malleus to oval window revision stapedotomy: Efficacy and longitudinal study outcome.

Objective: To determine the longitudinal effectiveness of the malleus to oval window stapedotomy technique among patients undergoing revision surgery when the incus is unavailable.

Study Design: Retrospective, case series.

Methods: Charts of 15 patients who underwent 17 malleus attachment stapedotomies performed by a single surgeon from 2000 to 2015 were reviewed.

Image-guided surgical navigation in otology.

Objectives/hypothesis: To evaluate the efficacy of image-guided surgical navigation (IGSN) in otologic surgery and establish practice guidelines.

Study Design: Prospective study.

Methods: Between January 2003 and January 2010, all patients requiring complicated surgery for chronic otitis media, glomus jugulare, atresia, cerebrospinal fluid leak with or without encephalocele, and cholesterol granuloma of the petrous apex were offered IGSN.

Large jugular bulb abnormalities involving the middle ear.

Objective: Jugular bulb abnormalities (JBA), such as jugular bulb diverticula (JBD) or large jugular bulbs, rarely present in the middle ear. We review a large series of temporal bone histopathologic specimens to determine their prevalence and present a series of cases of JB abnormalities involving the middle ear (JBME) that shed light on the probable mechanism for their development.

Patients: 1,579 unique temporal bone specimens and individuals with radiographically-diagnosed JBME.

Reconstruction of congenital microtia-atresia: outcomes with the Medpor/bone-anchored hearing aid-approach.

Ideal surgery for congenital microtia-atresia would offer excellent cosmetic and hearing rehabilitation, with minimal morbidity. Classic approaches require multiple procedures, including rib cartilage harvest and aural atresia repair. Our facial plastic and otologic team approach incorporates a high-density porous polyethylene (Medpor, Porex Surgical, Newnan, GA) auricular framework, followed by single-stage bone-anchored hearing aid (BAHA) implantation.

Psychometric validity of the Cochlear Implant Function Index (CIFI): a quality of life assessment tool for adult cochlear implant users.

Objective: The Cochlear Implant Function Index (CIFI) is created to assess adult cochlear implant (CI) auditory effectiveness in real world situations. Our objective is to evaluate the CIFI as a reliable psychometric tool to assess 1) reliance on visual assistance, 2) telephone use, 3) communication at work, 4) 'hearing' in noise, 5) in groups, and 6) in large room settings.

Study Design: Based upon Guttman scaling properties, the CIFI elicits implanted respondent's functional level with auditory independence from Level 1 (still requiring signing) to level 4 (without any help beyond CI).

Single-stage BAHA implantation in adults and children: is it safe?

Objective: Most surgeons perform pediatric bone-anchored hearing aid (BAHA) implantation in two stages. This study examined the safety and efficacy of single-stage BAHA implantation in adults and children.

Methods: Retrospective review of 32 ears: 18 pediatric (ages 6 to 13 years) and 14 adult patients who underwent single-stage BAHA surgery between 2002 and 2006.

Surgical management of complications after hearing aid fitting.

Objectives: Standard procedures for hearing aid fitting performed in accordance with established guidelines are well tolerated, safe, and effective. In this article, we present unusual complications after hearing aid fitting that required surgical management.

Methods: Four otologists at a major university center with a combined 65 years of experience performed a retrospective analysis of their surgical practice.

Revision stapes surgery: the malleus to oval window wire-piston technique.

Objective: To determine the effectiveness of the malleus to oval window wire-piston revision stapes surgery technique.

Study Design: A retrospective analysis of 243 stapes procedures performed by the senior author over a 10-year period identified 15 revisions. Five patients underwent a malleus to oval window wire-piston technique.