先天性外中耳畸形耳廓再造与听力重建手术的远期疗效观察

目的探讨先天性外中耳畸形患者全耳廓再造与听力重建手术的远期听力效果和并发症。方法对1984年1月至2001年1月期间，北京同仁医院耳鼻咽喉科住院的675例(700耳)行全耳廓再造与听力重建手术的外中耳畸形患者进行随访，其中40耳未行听力重建术，实际听力随访635例(660耳)。随访3～19年，平均7．9年。结果外耳道狭窄120耳，外耳道再闭锁2耳，发生率18．5％(122／660)。外耳道感染6耳。术后听力改善(听力级，下同)20dB以上者512耳，占77．6％；其中改善30dB以上者231耳，占35％。随访结果：术后听力稳定者450耳(68、2％)；随访听力比术后3周时听力不同程度下降者160耳(24．2％)，其中，感音神经性聋2耳，听力下降20dB以上者35耳，123耳为听力下降10～15dB，但仍然比术前听力好。结论68．2％(450／660)耳廓再造与听力重建手术的患者可长期保持稳定的术后听力效果；患者听力下降主要发生于术后半年内，与外耳道狭窄及感染关系密切，少数患者的听力下降与鼓室内粘连、后下壁骨质增生、听骨固定或移位有关。     

先天性外耳道狭窄与闭锁——远期疗效影响因素与手术策略

目的对不同类型先天性外耳道狭窄与闭锁的患者,实施外耳道成形术重建外耳道改善听力。对新外耳道的状态、听力变化和并发症情况进行随访,对影响远期疗效的相关因素进行分析,为外耳道畸形手术适应症选择、手术方案制定与决策提供依据。材料与方法一般资料:本文收集07年9月—10年9月期间资料完整的73例先天性外耳道狭窄或闭锁行外耳道成形术者。入选标准依据Jahrsdoerfer的中耳评分法;术前伴难以控制的外耳道感染、胆脂瘤破坏鼓室者除外;平均随访时间22.0月、平均手术年龄12.8岁。治疗方法采用耳甲切口、上鼓室入路,常规替尔氏皮片外耳道植皮。新鼓膜采用颞肌筋膜或乳突骨膜外覆盖部分裂厚皮片,或小外耳道皮肤转位与小鼓膜形成新鼓膜;凡士林抗生素纱条紧密填塞固定外耳道植皮,如无感染发生3-4周后取出,取出后常规膨胀海绵或消毒棉球扩张。结果狭窄组19例(95.0%)达实用听力(ABG〈30dB),且长期结果稳定,外耳道并发症少。其中4例(20.0%)术后气骨导差小于10dB。新外耳道感染及耳甲腔耳周皮肤湿疹和鼓膜外移钝角化少见。闭锁组仅27例(50.9%)获实用听力(ABG〈30dB),并发症多。两组之间在听力改善、长期疗效和并发症发生率均有显著差异,闭锁组的效果较差。结论新外耳道状态、听力变化和并发症与是否伴有小鼓膜和正常外耳道皮肤密切相关,是影响远期疗效的重要因素;对完全闭锁者再造外耳道需要更慎重。     

Surgical treatment of acquired external auditory canal atresia

Acquired atresia of the external auditory canal is a relatively rare disease, that can be the result of the recurrent external otitis, chronic media otitis, ear trauma, neoplasms or iatrogenic complications. The surgical treatment results after operation in the 7 patients with acquired external auditory canal atresia were presented. The mean age of the patients was 34.1 and the female to male ratio was 2:5. In 6 cases we performed transcanal operation. The meatus atresia was removed and then the stenotic canal was widened by removing the skin and fibrous tissue. We especially focused our attention on the state of the anterior angle of the tympanic membrane. The bony canal was widened by burr in cases with bony overhangs. The bony canal walls were lined with pediculate or free skin grafts. In cases of tympanic membrane perforation we performed myringoplasty with temporal muscle fascia or tragus perichondrium. The follow-up period was from 8 to 39 months. The hearing improvement with primary closure of air bone gap within 20 dB was achieved in 43% of cases. In 28% of the patients recurrent atresia developed. The early surgical treatment is recommended in all the cases because cholesteatoma behind the atresia was found in 28% of patients.     

Middle ear implants: functional gain in mixed hearing loss

Osseous atresia and chronic otitis media are diseases benefit with middle ear implants. Surgery for atresia is technically complicated, has significant number of complications and functional results are often poor. The osseointegrated hearing aids are an alternative. They provide a very good functional gain, but have many problems with the skin and osseointegration. In chronic otitis media, the ossiculoplasty solved partially the hearing problem. Unfortunately in some cases of otitis media and in open cavities fitted with conventional hearing aids the gain is unsatisfactory.AimTo determine the usefulness of an active middle ear implant.Material and methodLongitudinal Study. Vibrant-Soundbrigde was implanted in 8 patients with severe mixed hearing loss. 4 patients had chronic otitis media and 4 had unilateral atresia. The placement of the stimulator (FMT or Floating Mass Transducer) was in 5 patients on round window, 2 in stapes and one in the oval window.ResultsFunctional gain was 35 dB, 40 dB, 48.7 dB and 50 dB for the frequencies 500, 1000, 2000 and 4000 Hz, respectively.ConclusionVibrant-Soundbrigde is an excellent option in hearing recovery in severe and profound mixed hearing loss. It also provides an excellent functional gain in diseases difficult to treat with conventional hearing aids.     

先天性外耳道闭锁症术后并发症的处理

目的　探讨先天性外耳道闭锁症外科手术后并发症的原因及治疗方法。方法　 1996～ 2 0 0 2年间在北京同仁医院耳鼻咽喉科住院、经过手术治疗的先天性外耳道闭锁症 4 4 6耳 ,术后出现并发症的 4 7耳 ,分别为外耳道口狭窄、外耳道狭窄、感染引起的听力下降、单纯气导听力下降和面神经麻痹 ,其中听力下降 10dB 12耳 ,下降 2 0dB 19耳 ;下降 30～ 4 0dB 12耳。结果　造成术后并发症的主要原因为骨性外耳道开放不足 ,继发感染 ,鼓膜外侧愈合 ,未掌握面神经畸形的解剖特征。 4 3耳进行了再手术 ,其中包括外耳道口狭窄 2 4耳 ,外耳道狭窄 9耳 ,听力下降 8耳 ,面神经麻痹 1耳。与并发症出现后进行比较 ,再手术使听力有不同程度提高 :10耳听力提高了 10～ 2 0dB(2 3 3% ) ,2 1耳提高了 2 0～ 30dB(4 8 8% ) ,12耳提高了 30～ 4 0dB(2 7 9% )。面神经麻痹 1耳再手术后 2个月面神经功能恢复正常。 5耳采用保守治疗。结论　外耳道再狭窄和鼓膜的外侧愈合是造成手术后听力下降的主要原因 ,对严重的面神经畸形病例不要为了提高听力而损伤面神经     

先天性外耳道闭锁症术后并发症的处理

目的 探讨先天性外耳道闭锁症外科手术后并发症的原因及治疗方法。方法 1996～2002年间在北京同仁医院耳鼻咽喉科住院、经过手术治疗的先天性外耳道闭锁症446耳，术后出现并发症的47耳，分别为外耳道口狭窄、外耳道狭窄、感染引起的听力下降、单纯气导听力下降和面神经麻痹，其中听力下降10dB12耳，下降20dB19耳；下降30～40dB12耳。结果 造成术后并发症的主要原因为骨性外耳道开放不足，继发感染，鼓膜外侧愈合，未掌握面神经畸形的解剖特征。43耳进行了再手术，其中包括外耳道口狭窄24耳，外耳道狭窄9耳，听力下降8耳，面神经麻痹1耳。与并发症出现后进行比较，再手术使听力有不同程度提高：10耳听力提高了10—20dB(23．3％)，21耳提高了20～30dB(48．8％)，12耳提高了30～40dB(27．9％)。面神经麻痹1耳再手术后2个月面神经功能恢复正常。5耳采用保守治疗。结论 外耳道再狭窄和鼓膜的外侧愈合是造成手术后听力下降的主要原因，对严重的面神经畸形病例不要为了提高听力而损伤面神经。     

振动声桥在先天性耳畸形耳道再闭锁患者中的应用

目的:探讨外耳道再闭锁患者振动声桥植入效果。方法:曾行外耳道成形和鼓室成形术的耳畸形患者3例,其中男2例,女1例;年龄15～18岁,平均17岁。3例患者均为传导性聋,骨气导差51.6～65.0dB HL,平均为56.3dB HL。3例均行振动声桥植入,手术方式为:镫骨振动成形术2例,圆窗振动成形术1例。结果:3例患者术后听力改善21.6～52.5dB HL,平均32.2dB HL。无眩晕、耳鸣及面瘫等并发症发生。结论:外耳道成形和鼓室成形术后再闭锁的耳畸形患者,振动声桥植入后听力改善效果明显。     

Hearing rehabilitation with osseointegrated hearing implant in bilateral congenital external auditory canal atresia

Introduction and objectivesCongenital atresia of the external auditory canal (EAC) is a congenital defect present in one in every 10,000–20,000 births. It causes conductive hearing loss, with an air-bone gap of 50–60 dB. Early amplification is essential in bilateral cases to ensure normal language development. The aim of this study is to present the osseointegrated hearing implant as a treatment for bilateral EAC atresia, reviewing the audiometric results and the rate of complications.Material and methodsRetrospective analysis of patients diagnosed with bilateral congenital EAC atresia under follow-up in the pediatric ENT clinic of the ENT and Head and Neck Surgery department of a Portuguese Tertiary Hospital, between 2003 and 2019. We reviewed the medical records and collected information on the assessment of the initial audiometric status. In the cases submitted for implantation with an osseointegrated hearing implant, we analyzed the details of follow-up, including immediate and long-term post-operative complications, as well as the audiometric results.ResultsWe present 8 pediatric patients, 6 girls and 2 boys, with a diagnosis of bilateral congenital EAC atresia. The audiometric assessment revealed moderate to severe bilateral conductive hearing loss with a mean speech recognition threshold (SRT) of 51 dB. Six patients underwent osseointegrated hearing implantation. All 6 patients showed good audiometric results, with an average SRT of 20 dB and closure of the air-bone gap.ConclusionsThe osseointegrated hearing implant was an effective treatment option in these patients, without significant morbidity or complications. Osseointegrated hearing implantation should be considered first line treatment for children with bilateral congenital EAC atresia, as it presents good functional results and a high level of patient satisfaction.     

先天性外耳道闭锁

探讨先天性外耳道闭锁的中耳畸形特点,治疗方法及其效果。方法回顾性分析１９９６年１月－１９９６年１月１０年间在我科接受手术治疗,并获随访,资料的先天性外耳道畸形４４例（５０耳）。结果先天性外耳道闭锁４４例中６例接受双耳手术,全部病例伴不同程度的再廓和听骨链畸形。     

Surgical management of congenital aural atresia

Congenital aural atresia is a relatively common anomaly in otology. It requires an early assessment of hearing status and an early evaluation of the degree of atresia. Its surgical management is aimed at obtaining hearing gain and at establishing appropriate auditory canal status for the application of hearing aids. The authors analyzed the preoperative otologic findings, surgical findings, postoperative complications, and postoperative hearing results of 25 ears in 21 patients with congenital aural atresia. From January 1987 to February 1992, 24 of these ears were surgically corrected by anterior approach; the remaining 1 was corrected by transmastoid approach. Postoperative audiologic follow-up ranged from 8 months to 4 years (N = 21). A new modification of anterior approach is introduced. The final average air-bone gap was 30 dB, in contrast to preoperative 53 dB (N = 21). The final air-bone gap was improved to a level within 30 dB in 52% of the patients. Meatal stenosis was the most frequent postoperative complication and was seen in 12 patients in primary operation (N = 25). There was no postoperative facial nerve palsy and no sensorineural hearing loss. There was little difference in postoperative hearing among the various types of congenital aural atresia and the type of tympanoplasty that had been performed.     

Congenital aural atresia: Stability of surgical results

Objectives/Hypothesis: To compare early (<1 y) and longer-term (1.0–7.5 y; mean follow-up, 2.8 y) hearing results following surgery for congenital aural atresia and to analyze revision cases for cause of failure, time of occurrence, and outcome. Study Design: Retrospective study of 55 consecutive patients (59 ears) undergoing surgery during an 11-year period for congenital aural atresia. Methods: The best speech reception threshold (SRT) during the first postoperative year was compared with the most recent SRT beyond the first postoperative year. The complication rate and long-term hearing results (>1 y) for initial and revision surgeries were compared. Results: In the early postoperative period, an SRT of ≤25 dB was achieved in 60% and an SRT of ≤30 dB in 70%. With longer follow-up (mean, 2.8 y), 46% of patients maintained an SRT ±25 dB. Revision surgery was necessary in approximately one third of patients. Longer-term hearing results following initial surgery only or after revision surgery showed an SRT ±25 dB in 53% and an SRT ±30 dB in 64%. For primary and revisions surgeries the incidence of temporary facial paralysis was 1.5% and for significant hearing loss, 3.0%. Conclusions: Some degradation in hearing does occur as patients are followed beyond the first postoperative year. Revision surgery will be necessary in approximately one third of cases. With revisions, an SRT ±25 dB can be expected in half of cases and an SRT ±30 dB in two thirds of cases. The ability to provide these hearing results supports this surgery in unilateral cases.     

Congenital aural atresia

This report is based on 25 years' experience in the surgical management of 69 ears with congenital aural atresia. There were 7 ears with meatal atresia, 11 with partial atresia, 50 with total atresia, and 1 with hypopneumatic total atresia. Meatoplasty was performed in 7 ears, canaloplasty was performed in 22 ears, canaloplasties with strust in 8 ears, and mastoidectomy with stapediopexy was performed in 26 ears. Of the 62 ears that had partial or total atresia, five (8%) had hidden cholesteatomas that were destined to create future complications by expansion and erosion had they not been removed. In five of the 62 ears, temporary facial palsy resulted from exposing the facial nerve in the atresia plate, and in another five ears, attempts to improve hearing were abandoned intraoperatively because of surgically insurmountable anomalies. A reasonable criterion for success in an operation for bilateral atresia is that the need for a hearing aid is obviated; whereas, for unilateral atresia, a successful procedure should largely eliminate the disadvantages of unilateral hearing loss. These criteria seem to be satisfied if the threshold of hearing can be brought to a level of 20 dB or better. This criterion was met in 30% of the group that underwent canaloplasty and in 8% of the group that underwent mastoidectomy with stapediopexy.     

Integration des aktiven Mittelohrimplantates in die plastische Ohrmuschelrekonstruktion

Background

Patients with high-grade microtia and atresia require a sophisticated annd specific treatment. Apart from the plastic reconstruction of the auricle, in some cases hearing rehabilitation is medically indicated or is desired by the patients. The long-term results of simultaneous middle ear reconstruction with tympanoplasty are often inadequate owing to a persisting air–bone gap, and new techniques in hearing rehabilitation are needed for these patients.

Methods

We present three cases of unilateral atresia to illustrate a combined approach integrating hearing rehabilitation using the active middle ear implant Vibrant Soundbridge® (VSB) into plastic auricular reconstruction. The VSB was attached to the stapes suprastructure via the titanium clip in two of these cases and in the third case a subfacial approach was used to attach it directly to the membrane of the round window.

Results

The air–bone gap was reduced to 17 dB, 14 dB and 0.25 dB HL. In free-field speech recognition tests at 65 dB SPL the patients achieved 100%, 90% and 100% recognition with the activated implant. No postoperative complications such as facial nerve paresis, vertigo or inner ear damage were found.

Conclusions

The integration of active middle ear implants in auricular reconstruction iopens up a new approach in complete hearing rehabilitation. The additional implantation of the VSB does not have any negative effect on the healing process or the cosmetic outcome of the auricular reconstruction.     

Surgical and Audiologic Comparison Between Sophono and Bone-Anchored Hearing Aids Implantation

Objectives Bone-anchored hearing aids (BAHA) occasionally cause soft tissue problems due to abutment. Because Sophono does not have abutment penetrating skin, it is thought that Sophono has no soft tissue problem relating to abutment. On the other hand, transcutaneous device’s output is reported to be 10 to 15 dB lower than percutaneous device. Therefore, in this study, Sophono and BAHA were compared to each other from surgical and audiological points of view.Methods We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 9 Sophono patients and 10 BAHA patients. In BAHA cases, single vertical incision without skin thinning technique was done. We compared Sophono to BAHA by operation time, wound healing time, postoperative complications, postoperative hearing gain after switch on, and postoperative air-bone gap.Results The mean operation time was 60 minutes for Sophono and 25 minutes for BAHA. The wound healing time was 14 days for Sophono and 28 days for BAHA. No major intraoperative complication was observed. Skin problem was not observed in the 2 devices for the follow-up period. Postoperative hearing gain of bilateral aural atresia patients was 39.4 dB for BAHA (n=4) and 25.5 dB for Sophono (n=5). However, the difference was not statistically significant. In all patients included in this study, the difference of air-bone gap between two groups was 16.6 dB at 0.5 kHz and 18.2 dB at 4 kHz. BAHA was statistically significantly better than Sophono.Conclusion Considering the audiologic outcome, BAHA users were thought to have more audiologic benefit than Sophono users. However, Sophono had advantages over BAHA with abutment in cosmetic outcome. Sophono needed no daily skin maintenance and soft tissue complication due to abutment would not happen in Sophono. Therefore, a full explanation about each device is necessary before deciding implantation.     

Diagnosis and management strategies in congenital atresia of the external auditory canal. Study Group on Otological Malformations and Hearing Impairment

This consensus report represents a distillation of current opinion regarding diagnosis and management of congenital aural atresia. It also takes into account the philosophical differences which exist in Europe. Congenital aural atresia requires prompt diagnosis, genetic counselling and an early assessment of hearing. In bilateral atresia, early amplification with a bone conduction hearing aid is essential for proper speech development. Further rehabilitation in bilateral cases is managed with surgical reconstruction in selected patients or by implantation of a bone-anchored hearing aid. Atresia repair surgery is worthwhile if proper patient selection is made by use of stringent audiological and radiological criteria and state of the art surgery is performed. The divergent views concerning indications, ideal age for surgery and surgical approach to achieve better hearing are discussed. Review of the literature demonstrated that even in the hands of the best surgeons a mean hearing gain of only 20-25 dB is achieved in atresia Type II, with 30-35 dB in Type I. Therefore, surgical reconstruction should only be done in the more favourable cases where post-operative hearing of <25-30 dB is attainable. Less favoured patients should be helped with bone-anchored hearing aids, as this type of surgery does not interfere with the future use of new techniques.     

Congenital atresia of the external auditory canal

Children with congenital atresia of the external auditory canal require an early assessment of hearing and a determination of the degree of atresia and associated pathology by polytomography and/or high-resolution CT scanning. We analyzed the otologic findings in 302 ears (239 patients) with severe atresia of the external auditory canal. Eighty-seven primary or revision surgeries were performed. Fifty-three percent obtained a residual conductive deficit of 20 dB or less. Lateralization of the tympanic membrane graft was the primary cause of failure in obtaining good hearing results. The use of split-thickness skin graft instead of a full-thickness skin graft to cover the reconstructed external canal has decreased the incidence of restenosis and revision surgery.     

先天性耳廓、中耳畸形及外耳道闭锁的整复和鼓室成形术——附52例临床分析

目的观察Ⅰ期整复治疗先天性外、中耳畸形和外耳道闭锁并存患者的临床疗效和并发症。方法回顾性分析2000年1月～2007年1月间我科收治52例先天性外耳道闭锁并存中耳畸形患者。其中Ⅰ期全耳廓再造 外耳道成形 听骨链成形19例,耳后置水囊皮肤扩张器 外耳道成形 听骨链成形9例,单纯外耳道成形 听骨链成形20例,单纯外耳道成形 人工听骨安装2例,单纯Ⅰ期全耳廓再造 外耳道成形2例。结果听力重建50例,术后1月听力均有提高,语言频率平均提高25dB以上;其中术后随访6月～5年的38例,29例(76%)语言频率听力平均提高5～40dB。再造耳廓全部成活,其中1例出现耳廓挛缩;外耳道再造52例中,出现外耳道狭窄4例,外听道再闭锁者2例,均经及时处理得到缓解。未出现面瘫及迷路漏管等并发症。结论Ⅰ期整复治疗先天性外、中耳畸形和外耳道闭锁并存患者,并利用自体肋软骨再造耳廓可获得满意效果。     

Retrosigmoid implantation of an active bone conduction stimulator in a patient with chronic otitis media

Percutaneous bone conduction implants are widely used in patients with conductive and mixed hearing loss with no benefit from conventional air conduction hearing aids. These devices have several complications including skin reaction, wound infection, growth of skin over the abutment, and implant extrusion. We describe a case of a transcutaneous bone conduction implantation (Bonebridge, Med-el) in a patient with conductive hearing loss due to chronic otitis media. Surgical planification was performed with the software 3D slicer 4.1. According to this program, the implant transductor was positioned in the retrosigmoid area. Aided thresholds demonstrate a significant benefit, with an improvement from 68 dB to 25 dB. Speech discrimination scores improved 35 dB. The patient is very happy and uses her device daily. The Bonebridge implant is a promising transcutaneous bone conduction implant for patients with conductive hearing loss. Retrosigmoid implantation may be useful in cases with mastoid pathology or previous surgery.     

Congenital aural atresia and stenosis: Surgery strategies and long-term results

Abstract

Objective: To compare the patients who underwent surgery for congenital aural atresia (CAA) with congenital aural stenosis (CAS) for the stability of hearing results and complications during long-term follow-up. Design: Retrospective review. Study sample: Seventy-five CAA patients and fifty CAS patients who underwent congenital meatoplasty with canalplasty and tympanoplasty between 2007 and 2012. Results: Paired comparison analyses detected no significant difference in preoperative ABG but significant changes in postoperative ABG, ΔABG, the number of ABG < 30 dB and ABG < 10 dB between CAA and CAS. Complications such as postoperative stenosis, bony regrowth, external aural canal (EAC) infection, EAC eczema, total deaf, and lateralization of the tympanic membrane (TM) were observed in 61.3% of patients with CAA and 20% of patients with CAS. Chi square test detected significant differences in complications between patients with CAA and CAS (χ² = 20.73, p < 0.01). Conclusion: Meatoplasty with canalplasty and tympanoplasty in individuals with CAS can yield reliable and lasting positive hearing results with a low incidence of severe complications. The existence and preoperative condition of patients’ TM and EAC skin helped improve hearing results and decrease the incidence of complications. However, the final hearing results and complications required stricter indications for CAA patients.     

Audiological analysis and peri-and postoperative complications in bone-anchored hearing aid surgery

The bone-anchored hearing aid (BAHA) has advantages over conventional hearing aids in sound quality and speech reception in silence, but requires surgery and may have peri-and postoperative complications. We evaluated audiological findings and complications in 12 subjects (13 ears)-8 men and 4 women aged 20-71--undergoing BAHA surgery from September 2001 to October 2005. Surgery was for single-sided deafness in one subject. Mean warble tone thresholds with BAHA were 29.9dB and 65.2dB without. Functional gains ranged from 16 to 52dB (mean: 35.3dB). Dural exposure or venous hemorrhage was seen in 4 ears, and mastoid cells opened and a skin flap was damaged in 1 ear each. No severe complications occurred perioperatively. Skin reactions categorized into grade 1 or more were recognized in nearly 70% of ears during the first postoperative year but most were a grade 1 reaction and skin reactions decreased with time. Skin overgrowth occurred in 1 ear immediately after an abutment separated accidentally from the fixture. All complications were treated in outpatient clinics. No fixture extrusion occurred. The decision to proceed with BAHA surgery thus required fully informed consent based on knowledge of peri-and postoperative complications.