A Hybrid Auricular Framework of Autologous Rib Cartilage and a Porous Polyethylene Implant for Reconstruction of Congenital Microtia: A Modification of Nagata's Technique.

An implant (porous polyethylene) is an alternative to rib cartilage for microtia reconstruction but carries a risk of extrusion. To evaluate the outcome of a hybrid framework of implant with rib cartilage for microtia reconstruction. Patients who underwent Nagata's technique for microtia reconstruction were reviewed for complications and aesthetic score.

Contemporary solutions for patients with microtia and congenital aural atresia - Hong Kong experience.

Managing microtia patients is always a challenge. Multidisciplinary approach, good family support, well established doctor-patient relationship and well organised patient-support groups are the essential elements for success. With the advancement of implantable hearing devices, more options will be available for the microtia patients.

CT pre-operative planning of a new semi-implantable bone conduction hearing device.

Purpose: Accommodating a novel semi-implantable bone conduction hearing device within the temporal bone presents challenges for surgical planning. This study describes the utility of CT in pre-operative assessment of such an implant.

Methods: Retrospective review of pre-operative CT, clinical and surgical records of 16 adults considered for device implantation.

A tutorial on implantable hearing amplification options for adults with unilateral microtia and atresia.

Background: Patients with unilateral atresia and microtia encounter problems in sound localization and speech understanding in noise. Although there are four implantable hearing devices available, there is little discussion and evidence on the application of these devices on patients with unilateral atresia and microtia problems.

Objective: This paper will review the details of these four implantable hearing devices for the treatment of unilateral atresia.

Contemporary hearing rehabilitation options in patients with aural atresia.

Congenital aural atresia is the failure of development of the external auditory canal. It usually occurs in conjunction with microtia, which is the malformation of the auricle due to a failure of development of the external ear. Aural atresia, with or without microtia, may significantly affect the hearing and social life of the patients.

Outcome of vibrant soundbridge middle ear implant in cantonese-speaking mixed hearing loss adults.

Objectives: To investigate the aided benefits, speech recognition in quiet and in noise, change in hearing and subjective report of satisfaction on mixed hearing loss adults implanted with Vibrant Soundbridge (VSB) middle ear implant.

Methods: Eight Cantonese speaking adult patients with mixed hearing loss were enrolled in a single-subject, repeated measures prospective study design. Audiometric testing, including air and bone conduction and word recognition under sound-field were conducted before surgery.

The BAHA hearing system for hearing-impaired postirradiated nasopharyngeal cancer patients: a new indication.

Background: Radiation for patients who have nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) often renders them hearing challenged and facing difficulties from treatment sequelae such as chronic suppurative otitis media and osteoradionecrosis. Conventional hearing aids aggravate otorrhea, and ear moulds traumatize osteoradionecrosis ulcers in the ear canal. The bone-anchored hearing aid (BAHA) hearing system might represent an excellent hearing solution.