Utilization of SmartNav technology in cochlear implantation: optimizing efficiency in assessment of electrode placement.

Objectives: Proper electrode placement is essential for favorable hearing outcomes following cochlear implantation. Though often used, traditional intraoperative X-ray imaging is time consuming, exposes patients and staff to radiation, and poses interpretational challenges. The Nucleus® SmartNav System, utilizes electrode voltage telemetry (EVT) to analyze the positioning of the electrode array intraoperatively.

Cochlear Implantation in Children With a Long Average Duration of Single Sided Deafness.

Objectives: Previous research has shown the positive effects of cochlear implantation in children with a short duration of single sided deafness (SSD). This case series assessed the impact of cochlear implantation in a cohort of children with a longer average duration of SSD.

Methods: A retrospective chart review of 6 children who received a cochlear implant for SSD.

Frailty Is Superior to Age for Predicting Readmission, Prolonged Length of Stay, and Wound Infection in Elective Otology Procedures.

Objective: To determine the predictive ability of the 5-point modified frailty index relative to age in elective otology patients.

Study Design: Retrospective database analysis.

Setting: Multicenter, national database of surgical patients.

Cerebrospinal fluid leaks and encephaloceles of temporal bone origin: nuances to diagnosis and management.

Objective: Temporal bone encephalocele has become less common as the incidence of chronic mastoid infection and surgery for this condition has decreased. As a result, the diagnosis is often delayed, and the encephalocele is often an incidental finding. This situation can result in serious neurologic complications with patients presenting with cerebrospinal fluid leak and meningitis.

Genetic analysis of presbycusis by arrayed primer extension.

Using the Hereditary Hearing Loss arrayed primer extension (APEX) array, which contains 198 mutations across 8 hearing loss-associated genes (GJB2, GJB6, GJB3, GJA1, SLC26A4, SLC26A5, 12S-rRNA, and tRNA Ser), we compared the frequency of sequence variants in 94 individuals with early presbycusis to 50 unaffected controls and aimed to identify possible genetic contributors. This cross-sectional study was performed at Stanford University with presbycusis samples from the California Ear Institute. The patients were between ages 20 and 65 yr, with adult-onset sensorineural hearing loss of unknown etiology, and carried a clinical diagnosis of early presbycusis.

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.

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.

A new antistuttering device: treatment of stuttering using bone conduction stimulation with delayed temporal feedback.

Objectives: Stuttering is a communication disorder affecting approximately 1% of the adult population, some with severe manifestations. Speech therapy improves stuttering, but many do not receive enough benefit to communicate fluently. Antistuttering devices have been available for several years, but available technology has been limited in long-term success and reliability.

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.

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.

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.