Fibrous incudostapedial joint in congenital aural atresia.

Objectives: (1) Determine the prevalence of a non-bony or fibrous incudostapedial (IS) joint in the setting of congenital aural atresia. (2) Assess this anomaly's impact on surgical management and associated hearing outcomes.

Study Design: Retrospective chart review.

HEAR MAPS a classification for congenital microtia/atresia based on the evaluation of 742 patients.

Objective: Describe anatomical and radiological findings in 742 patients evaluated for congenital aural atresia and microtia by a multidisciplinary team. Develop a new classification method to enhance multidisciplinary communication regarding patients with congenital aural atresia and microtia.

Methods: Retrospective chart review with descriptive analysis of findings arising from the evaluation of patients with congenital atresia and microtia between January 2008 and January 2012 at a multidisciplinary tertiary referral center.

Anatomical facial nerve findings in 209 consecutive atresia cases.

Objective: Describe intraoperative facial nerve findings in 209 consecutive atresia cases. Identify preoperative and intraoperative anatomical variants that should alert the surgeon to potential high-risk facial nerve anatomy.

Study Design: Case series with chart review.

Scalp as split thickness skin graft donor site for congenital atresia repair.

Objective: Describe the use of the scalp as a donor site for split thickness skin grafts in otologic surgery.

Materials And Methods: Review of the literature with detailed description of surgical technique and authors' experience.

Results: One hundred and forty- four scalp split thickness skin grafts were obtained between 2007 and 2011.

Rarely reported ocular complications following surgery to correct chronic suppurative otitis media.

The objective of this study was to describe the rarely reported ocular complications following surgery to correct chronic suppurative otitis media. A retrospective analysis was made of 2,318 cases of chronic suppurative otitis media treated with surgery between January 2004 and December 2009 at West China Hospital, Sichuan University, a medical center in Western China. Ninety-two cases of ocular complications were identified, giving an incidence of 3.

Current concepts in repair of aural atresia.

Purpose Of Review: To look at the current rationale behind surgical candidacy for aural atresia. In addition, we review recent technical aspects of the procedure, as it relates to outcomes.

Recent Findings: Traditionally, aural atresia repair has been mostly reserved for bilateral atresia patients or occasionally unilateral patients with ideal conditions.

Catecholamine-secreting paragangliomas: recent progress in diagnosis and perioperative management.

Catecholamine-secreting paragangliomas (CSPs) present challenges for the managing team of surgeons and anesthesiologists. Without proper preoperative management and planning, the patient is at high risk for complications and significant morbidity. A review of the literature looking at all aspects of the care of patients with CSP was performed to provide a consensus on the comprehensive care of these difficult patients.

Atresia repair before microtia reconstruction: comparison of early with standard surgical timing.

Objective: To compare short-term results of atresia repair when performed before versus after microtia reconstruction.

Study Design: Retrospective case review.

Setting: Tertiary otologic referral center.

Modifications of standard cochlear implantation techniques for children under 18 months of age.

Cochlear implantation is being performed in increasingly younger children. We present a retrospective cohort of 19 patients with 23 ears implanted under 18 months of age. The mean age at implantation was 11.

N-Acetylcysteine as an adjunct for refractory ear infections.

Objective: To analyze the efficacy of Ciprodex otic augmented with N-acetylcysteine (NAC) against difficult ear infections.

Subjects: Subjects were selected with at least 1 month of continuous otorrhea despite at least 3 distinct medical or surgical treatments.

Interventions: Subjects received Ciprodex otic augmented with 0.

Ultraminiature encapsulated accelerometers as a fully implantable sensor for implantable hearing aids.

Experiments were conducted to evaluate a silicon accelerometer as an implantable sound sensor for implantable hearing aids. The main motivation of this study is to find an alternative sound sensor that is implantable inside the body, yet does not suffer from the signal attenuation from the body. The merit of the accelerometer sensor as a sound sensor will be that it will utilize the natural mechanical conduction in the middle ear as a source of the vibration.

Silicone allergy: A new cause for cochlear implant extrusion and its management.

Objective: We introduce silicone allergy as a rare cause for cochlear implant extrusion and discuss its management.

Study Design: Retrospective case series and literature review.

Setting: Tertiary referral centers.

Cochleostomy site: implications for electrode placement and hearing preservation.

Conclusions: With recent increased interest in minimizing intracochlear trauma and preserving residual hearing during cochlear implantation, increased attention must be paid to the cochleostomy site. The results of this paper demonstrate that the cochleostomy must be made inferior, rather than anterior, to the round window to ensure scala tympani insertion and to decrease the likelihood of insertion-induced intracochlear damage during electrode insertion.

Objective: To describe the complex anatomy of the hook region of the cochlea, specifically in relation to the optimal placement of the cochleostomy for cochlear implant electrode insertion to potentially achieve hearing preservation.

Malleus-to-footplate versus malleus-to-stapes-head ossicular reconstruction prostheses: temporal bone pressure gain measurements and clinical audiological data.

Hypothesis: Several clinical reports suggest that if the stapes superstructure is intact, ossicular reconstruction should be made to the stapes head rather than the footplate to achieve a better hearing outcome. To test this hypothesis, we compared the in situ mechanical performance of hydroxylapatite (HA) malleus-to-stapes-head (MSH) ossicular reconstruction prosthesis (ORP) with malleus-to-footplate (MFP) ORP, both manufactured by Project HEAR.

Background: ORPs are commonly used to replace a missing or deficient incus.

Evaluation of botulinum toxin A in treatment of tinnitus.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential benefit of botulinum toxin A in treatment of tinnitus with a prospective, double-blinded study design.

Study Design: Double-blinded, prospective clinical study.

Methods: Thirty patients with tinnitus were randomly placed into 1 of 2 treatment arms.

Malleus-to-footplate ossicular reconstruction prosthesis positioning: cochleovestibular pressure optimization.

Aims: To determine 1) the best position for hydroxylapatite malleus-to-footplate (MFP), ossicular replacement prosthesis (ORP) in reconstructed ears, and 2) whether preserving the stapes superstructure (SS), when present, has acoustic advantages.

Background: Positioning of the MFP-ORP head beneath the neck of the malleus may produce maximal force, whereas positioning beneath the manubrium of the malleus may produce the greatest displacement. It is not clear which is the optimal placement position.

Partial promontory technique in stapedotomy cases with narrow niche.

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine clinical and audiometric outcomes of a laser partial promontory technique in stapedotomy cases with a narrow oval window niche.

Study Design: We conducted a retrospective chart review.

Setting: This study was conducted at a tertiary referral center.

Auditory steady-state response testing in children: evaluation of a new technology.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate auditory steady-state responses (ASSR) for determining frequency-specific hearing impairment and to compare this technology with conventional auditory brainstem responses (ABR). Study design The study was a prospective clinical trial. Twenty-eight pediatric patients ranging in age from 7 to 61 months who were undergoing sedated ABR testing for evaluation of hearing impairment were also evaluated using ASSR.

Mastoid obliteration: autogenous cranial bone pAte reconstruction.

Objective: To review the outcome in consecutive patients who have undergone complete epitympanic and mastoid obliteration and concurrent tympanic membrane reconstruction over a 53-month period.

Study Design: Retrospective review.

Setting: Tertiary referral center.