The Titanium Angular Clip Prosthesis for Ossicular Chain Reconstruction: Long-Term Results.

Objectives: To describe the long-term results of the titanium angular clip prosthesis 10 years after its initial description.

Study Design: Clinical retrospective study.

Setting: Tertiary referral center.

Preservation of Vestibular Function and Residual Hearing After Round Window Cochlear Implantation.

Objective: To examine the possible correlation between the loss of short-term residual hearing and vestibular function after cochlear implantation (CI).

Study Design: Retrospective patient review.

Setting: Academic tertiary referral center.

Nocturnal Olfactory Stimulation for Improvement of Sleep Quality in Patients With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Randomized Exploratory Intervention Trial.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is characterized by sleep impairment and nightmares. As pleasant odors presented during sleep affect the emotional tone of dreams without inducing arousal, we investigated whether sleep patterns in PTSD can be improved via nocturnal olfactory stimulation. Participants were 40 inpatients with PTSD (n = 35 women; age range: 20-59 years) who completed a randomized, patient-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Long-Term Outcomes of Vibroplasty Coupler Implantations to Treat Mixed/Conductive Hearing Loss.

Objective: To evaluate the long-term safety and performance of four different vibroplasty couplers (round window, oval window, CliP and Bell coupler) in combination with an active middle ear implant.

Methods: This was a multicentre, prospective, long-term study including 5 German hospitals. Thirty adult subjects suffering from conductive or mixed hearing loss were initially enrolled for the study, 24 of these were included in the final analysis with up to 36 months of postsurgical follow-up data.

A new theory interprets the development of a retraction pocket as a natural self-healing process.

Purpose: The thesis that cholesteatoma evolves from a retraction pocket is widely accepted today. Yet, its prime etiology, the question of what triggers the invagination of healthy skin, still remains unclear despite centuries of investigations into the origin of cholesteatoma. A new idea interprets the horizontal migration of skin into the middle ear cavities as a self-healing process, curing an underlying inflammation in the tympanic cavity, through the overgrowth and contact with immunologically active tissue.

Evaluation of Coupling Efficiency in Round Window Vibroplasty With a New Handheld Probe.

Hypothesis: A handheld measuring probe was developed that analyzes the vibration characteristics of the stapes footplate after backward stimulation of the cochlea in round window vibroplasty. In temporal bone experiments, the measuring accuracy of the probe was tested.

Background: In round window vibroplasty, the effectiveness of the transmitted vibrations into the inner ear is provided with limited visual and tactile information.

Influence of ambient air pressure changes on vestibular symptoms after stapes surgery.

Objective: To examine if vestibular irritation after stapes surgery may be provoked by pressure changes across the tympanic membrane, which consecutively results in displacements of the ossicular chain and the piston prosthesis suspended to it.

Methods: In this prospective study 15 patients (13 female, 2 male) received unilateral stapes surgery (4 left, 11 right ear) with stapedotomy (n=14) or stapedectomy (n=1) at an academic tertiary referral center. Surgery was performed under local anesthesia via a transmeatal approach with a piston prosthesis 0.

Acquired stenosis of the external auditory canal - long-term results and patient satisfaction.

Background: The surgical treatment of acquired post-inflammatory atresia of the external auditory canal (EAC) is challenging. Based on the long-term surgical experience, a modified split skin graft technique has been established at our clinic.

Aims/objectives: The aim was to evaluate the clinical and audiological data and patient satisfaction after performing meatoplasty.

Analyzing eustachian tube function in patients with symptoms of chronical Eustachian tube dysfunction by pressure chamber measurements.

Purpose: The determination of Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) subtypes in daily routines is based on symptoms of the patient, otoscopy, nasopharyngoscopy, tympanometry, pure tone audiometry, and Valsalva's test, even though this clinical assessment is often not sufficient to clearly diagnose the subtype. In the study, we have evaluated the possibility of the determination of different subtypes of ETD by pressure chamber measurements.

Methods: In a single-person pressure chamber, we exposed 17 patients to pressure increases and decreases.

Cochlear implantation using the underwater technique: long-term results.

Introduction: The opening of the round window and the insertion of the electrode array into the scala tympani during cochlear implant surgery can lead to a pressure shock of the delicate inner ear structures. By filling the tympanic cavity with Ringer Solution during these surgical steps (underwater technique), the hydrostatic pressure of the fluid acts as a smooth pressure stabilizer, avoiding a pressure shock of the inner ear structures. The aim of this retrospective study was to present long-term results of this new method of cochlear implantation in underwater technique.

Assessment of the Importance of Tympanic Membrane Mechanoreceptors on Eustachian Tube Function Based on Pressure Chamber Measurements.

Introduction: Previously, it was demonstrated how the Eustachian tube (ET) opening function can be influenced by middle ear pressure and movement of the tympanic membrane via neural control. Mechanoreceptors on the tympanic membrane may be part of the afferent arc and could influence the middle ear pressure by activating the musculus veli palatini as part of a reflex.

Methods: In a hypo and hyperbaric pressure chamber, 17 participants (34 ears) were twice exposed to a standardized pressure profile of pressure decrease and increase.

Influence of repetitive diving in freshwater on pressure equalization and Eustachian tube function in recreational scuba divers.

Introduction: We investigated the effect of repetitive pressure exposure during freshwater dives on Eustachian tube function and the middle ear, assessed by the Eustachian tube function test (ETFT).

Methods: This prospective observational cohort study included 23 divers over three consecutive days of diving in freshwater lakes in Nordhausen, Germany. Participants underwent otoscopy and ETFT before the first dive, between each dive and after the last dive.

Influence of repetitive diving in saltwater on pressure equalization and Eustachian tube function in recreational scuba divers.

Introduction: We investigated in a prospective, observational trial the feasibility of using the Eustachian tube function test (ETFT) to measure the effect of repetitive pressure exposure during open seawater dives on Eustachian tube function.

Methods: The study included 28 adult divers during six consecutive days of diving in the Red Sea. Participants underwent otoscopy and ETFT before the first dive, between each dive and after the last dive.

Repetitive freshwater diving: risk factors and prevalence of barotrauma.

Objective: The aim was to investigate the influence of repetitive scuba diving in fresh water on the middle ear mucosa. The prevalence of middle ear barotrauma (MEB) and risk factors for MEB were evaluated.

Study Design: Prospective cohort study, Level of evidence 1b.

Analysis of the dura involvement in cholesteatoma surgery.

Objective: The involvement of the dura is a rare yet potentially life-threatening complication during cholesteatoma surgery. Thus, the knowledge about treatment and consequences of this issue is of great importance to every ear surgeon.

Methods: This retrospective study analyzed the dura involvement with regard to the type of defect, reconstruction method used, and the post-operative complications of 1291 pediatric and adult cholesteatoma surgeries performed at an academic tertiary care center over a twelve-year period.

Multicenter Clinical Trial of Vibroplasty Couplers to Treat Mixed/Conductive Hearing Loss: First Results.

Objective: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of round window (RW), oval window (OW), CliP and Bell couplers for use with an active middle ear implant.

Methods: This is a multicenter, long-term, prospective trial with consecutive enrollment, involving 6 university hospitals in Germany. Bone conduction, air conduction, implant-aided warble-tone thresholds and Freiburger monosyllable word recognition scores were compared with unaided preimplantation results in 28 moderate-to-profound hearing-impaired patients after 12 months of follow-up.

MDM2 and CDK4 amplifications are rare events in salivary duct carcinomas.

Salivary duct carcinoma (SDC) is an aggressive adenocarcinoma of the salivary glands associated with poor clinical outcome. SDCs are known to carry TP53 mutations in about 50%, however, only little is known about alternative pathogenic mechanisms within the p53 regulatory network. Particularly, data on alterations of the oncogenes MDM2 and CDK4 located in the chromosomal region 12q13-15 are limited in SDC, while genomic rearrangements of the adjacent HMGA2 gene locus are well documented in subsets of SDCs.

Prevalence of Barotrauma in Recreational Scuba Divers After Repetitive Saltwater Dives.

Introduction: The aim was to investigate the prevalence of middle ear barotrauma (MEB) and to establish risk factors of MEB after repeated saltwater dives.

Methods: In this prospective observational cohort study 28 divers were examined over 6 consecutive days of diving in the Red Sea, Egypt. Participants underwent an otoscopic examination before the first dive, between each dive and after the last dive.

Long-term Results of the Cartilage Shoe Technique to Anchor a Titanium Total Ossicular Replacement Prosthesis on the Stapes Footplate After Type III Tympanoplasty.

Importance: Multiple techniques for a more secure and stable anchoring of the foot of a total ossicular replacement prosthesis (TORP) on the footplate have been proposed. To address this issue, a technique was developed that fits a cartilage shoe into the oval niche to guide the base of the prosthesis into a preformed central perforation.

Objective: To evaluate the long-term results of the cartilage shoe technique used to anchor a titanium TORP on the stapes footplate in patients after type III tympanoplasty.

Acoustic effects of the reconstructed lateral epitympanic wall in a temporal bone and clinical study.

Objective: Acoustic evaluation of reconstruction of the lateral epitympanic wall with bone or cartilage in a temporal bone study, and evaluation of audiometric data of patients who underwent cholesteatoma surgery with reconstruction of the lateral epitympanic wall with horseshoe-shaped cartilage.

Study Design: Temporal bone study and retrospective chart review.

Methods: Preparation of temporal bones included reconstruction of the epitympanic wall with fixated and loose cartilage and bone.

Long term results of the titanium clip prosthesis.

The objective of the study is to evaluate the long term results of ossiculoplasty using the clip titanium partial ossicular replacement prosthesis. This study retrospectively reviews the partial ossiculoplasty conducted using clip titanium partial ossicular replacement prosthesis at a tertiary referral center. Audiometric outcomes and intraoperative findings were postoperatively measured from revision surgery of 47 ears (20 women, 27 men, mean age 43 years) averaging 6.

Long-term Follow-up Study of the Sandwich Cartilage Shoe Technique in Cases of Insecure Stapes Footplate.

Objective: Analysis of the audiometric results after repair of a defective footplate with the sandwich cartilage shoe technique in a follow-up study.

Study Design: Retrospective analysis of audiometric data.

Setting: Hospital.