Necrotizing meningoencephalitis mimicking cerebellopontine angle tumor as late complication following cochlear implantation

We describe for the first time localized necrotizing meningoencephalitis as the cause of functional hearing loss, facial nerve palsy, and vertigo after cochlear implant (CI) surgery. Magnet resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography scans before CI surgery and after 3 years showed no abnormalities, especially no evidence of a tumor in the cerebellopontine angle (CPA). Due to recurrent facial nerve palsy the CI was explanted after 5 years in order to be able to visualize the CPA without artifacts caused by the CI in MRI scans. The MRI scans now showed a tumor in the CPA. Following removal of the tumor, histopathological and immunohistochemical examination revealed a necrotizing meningoencephalitis, with the CI electrode as the focus.     

MRI surveillance following concurrent cochlear implantation in cases of vestibular schwannoma resection

ObjectiveCochlear nerve preserving translabyrinthine vestibular schwannoma (VS) resection enables concurrent cochlear implantation. Implantation in patients with VS raises important concerns including the ability to undergo postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) monitoring of residual tumor growth or tumor recurrence, specifically with a retained magnet. We aim to assess the feasibility of MRI monitoring and the impact on image quality with retained cochlear implant (CI) magnets.MethodsRetrospective review of post-operative head MRI scans in CI recipients with a retained CI magnet, after cochlear nerve preserving translabyrinthine excision of VS. The ability to visualize the ipsilateral and contralateral internal auditory canal (IAC) and cerebellopontine angle (CPA) were assessed.ResultsA total of eight surveillance head MRI were performed in six patients. In one case, in which the receiver was positioned lower, the view of the ipsilateral IAC and CPA was distorted. In all other cases, the views of both the ipsilateral and contralateral IAC and CPA were overall unimpaired.DiscussionImaging artifact only very rarely impedes adequate visualization of the ipsilateral IAC or CPA in CI recipients. In anticipation of the need for further IAC and CPA imaging, it would be advisable to place the receiver in an exaggerated superior-posterior position to further decrease obscuring artifact. Thus, serial monitoring of VS tumors can be performed safely with preservation of image quality with a retained receiver magnet.ConclusionsWhen placing the CI receiver-stimulator farther posterior-superiorly, excellent visualization of the IAC and CPA can be accomplished without significantly impairing the image quality.     

Endoscopic transcanal facial nerve decompression in Bell's palsy: A pilot study

PurposeTo explore the surgical effects of endoscopic facial nerve decompression in Bell's palsy.Materials and methodsThis retrospective study included 15 patients with Bell's palsy. All had grade VI (House-Brackmann grading system) complete unilateral facial paralysis before surgery and a >95% reduction in amplitude on electroneurography testing compared to the unaffected side. Their MRI results indicated perineural edema in the geniculate ganglion area. Endoscopic decompression surgery was performed soon after they presented at our hospital. The time between onset of facial paralysis and surgery ranged from 25 to 93 days. All patients had no relevant surgical history or ear diseases.ResultsAt 1-year follow-up, 13 of the 15 (87%) patients had recovered to normal or near-normal facial function (House-Brackmann grade I-II), and all patients had reached House-Brackmann grade III or lower facial function. No obvious air-bone gap or sensorineural hearing loss occurred after surgery, and there were no severe complications or synkinesis.ConclusionsEndoscopic transcanal facial nerve decompression provides a less traumatic and improved exposure of the geniculate ganglion, and may also help prevent permanent severe facial sequela. Results of intraoperative facial nerve stimulation may be related to the length of time required for recovery. The optimal time of surgery after onset of paralysis needs to be investigated further, to identify a post-drug surgical therapy which may be more acceptable for patients. Patients' response to conservative treatments should be assessed as soon as possible so as not to delay surgery.     

扩大迷路径路切除经枕下径路手术后复发的听神经瘤

目的：探讨听神经瘤经枕下径路手术后复发、后经扩大迷路径路再次切除肿瘤的方法及效果。方法：对5例复发的听神经瘤患者，采用扩大迷路径路手术，在经典迷路径路的基础上，通过充分切除岩骨骨质扩大手术视野，将复发的肿瘤组织完全切除。结果：5例听神经瘤直径为2．5～4．0cm，均全部切除，无死亡病例，未发生颅内感染及脑脊液漏；面神经功能与术前一致；术后CT和MRI复查均显示无肿瘤残存，小脑、脑干位置恢复正常。经0．5～2年7个月的随访，至今未见复发，患者已恢复正常生活和工作。结论：枕下径路手术容易残留内听道内的肿瘤，再次手术采用扩大迷路径路可直接暴露肿瘤并到达脑干，既可避免瘢痕粘连区，方便定位面神经，又能全部切除复发的肿瘤，且具有创伤小、面神经功能保存完好等优点。     

Primary paraganglioma in the facial nerve canal

Objective

To describe primary paraganglioma in the facial nerve canal and discuss the characteristics of facial nerve paraganglioma in contrast with other tumors.

Case report

A 23-year-old man developed gradually progressive right facial palsy as the initial symptom. One year later, he exhibited hearing loss without tinnitus in his right ear. CT demonstrated an enlarged facial nerve canal with irregular bony erosion of the circumference. MRI showed a well-enhanced heterogeneous mass with hypo-intensity spots inside it. During surgery, a blood-rich tumor was observed along the facial nerve: however, extensive bleeding interfered with tumor removal. The surgical specimen demonstrated paraganglioma. The tumor was completely removed in the second surgery in combination with arterial embolization. Facial nerve function was reconstructed with a free muscle flap more than one year following resection.

Conclusion

Because paraganglioma is a blood-rich tumor, it is important to perform angiography and embolization. If preoperative facial nerve palsy is demonstrated, careful management of facial nerve function is needed. Paraganglioma must be considered in the differential diagnosis of a facial nerve tumor.     

面神经瘤误诊分析

目的总结分析面神经瘤误诊的原因，提高对面神经瘤的认识。方法1993年1月至2006年9月手术治疗的28例面神经瘤患者，11例有误诊的经历。所有患者均行CT或MRI检查、纯音测听，面神经功能的评估采用House-Brackman（HB）系统。结果11例患者被误诊。2例术前被误诊为腮腺肿块，行腮腺浅叶切除术，术中发现肿块来自面神经。4例单侧面神经麻痹长期外院误诊为贝尔面神经麻痹，病史1至8年。由于长期面神经麻痹无好转，行影像学检查发现面神经占位病变。2例复发性面神经麻痹误诊为贝尔面神经麻痹，行影像学检查发现均为面神经膝状神经节占位。1例因左耳渐进性听力下降，体检见外耳道新生物，诊断为外耳道新生物，行活组织检查示神经鞘瘤，进一步影像学检查提示为面神经瘤。1例右耳流脓数年，面神经麻痹1个月。查体示右鼓膜穿孔，CT检查诊断为慢性中耳炎行手术，术中见上鼓室肿块同面神经关系密切，取部分组织送病理，术后病理为面神经鞘瘤。另1例面神经麻痹1年半，CT检查误诊为先天性胆脂瘤，入院后发现乳突肿块同面神经关系密切，MRI证实为面神经肿瘤并且侵及腮腺内面神经。11例均经手术和病理证实。结论面神经瘤较罕见，不为大多数临床耳科医生熟悉，在临床中易被漏诊和误诊。临床中，如贝尔面神经麻痹半年内无好转现象或患者表现为反复面神经麻痹，应行影像学检查排除面神经瘤的可能。如患者出现面神经麻痹，CT示中耳占位并同面神经关系密切时，行MRI检查可同中耳胆脂瘤、肉芽、胆固醇肉芽肿等区分。腮腺肿块同面神经总干关系密切者应警惕面神经可能。     

A case report of facial nerve hemangioma

Facial nerve hemangioma is a rare benign tumor that originates from the venous plexus surrounding the facial nerve. A case of facial nerve hemangioma in the geniculate ganglion was reported.

A 47-year-old man was referred with a left progressive facial palsy over 1 year. There were no complaints of associated hearing loss, tinnitus, headache, dizziness or otalgia. He had a left-side grade VI (House and Brackmann) facial palsy. Audiometry revealed normal hearing thresholds in conversation area bilaterally. CT imaging demonstrated a tumor at the left first genu of the facial nerve with expansion to the cochlea wall and middle skull base. MRI imaging demonstrated a centrally enhancing lesion measuring 5 mm × 10 mm in the geniculate ganglion. The tumor was totally removed by the middle cranial fossa approach. At the time of surgery the facial nerve was destroyed by the tumor in the geniculate ganglion. Histopathological examination diagnosed a hemangioma.     

Relationship between serum gonadal hormone levels and synkinesis in postmenopausal women and man with idiopathic facial paralysis

ObjectiveTo investigate whether serum gonadal hormone levels are correlated to the development of facial synkinesis following Bell's palsy in postmenopausal women and man.MethodsA total of 149 patients with Bell's palsy were enrolled in this study. All patients were instructed in standard treatment strategy by expert staff from their first visit. The degree of synkinesis was evaluated at 12 months after the onset of facial nerve palsy based on the synkinesis scores of Sunnybrook facial grading system. The patients were divided into two groups by gender.ResultsSerum estradiol levels were significantly higher in patients with facial synkinesis than in patients without facial synkinesis following Bell's palsy in postmenopausal female. Male patients with facial synkinesis following Bell's palsy had a higher serum estradiol and testosterone levels. Baseline ENoG values (OR=11.144, 95% CI=1.001-124.126, p=0.008) and serum estradiol levels (OR=1.145, 95% CI=1.033-1.270, p=0.010) were the two independent predictors for facial synkinesis in postmenopausal female patients. Meanwhile, baseline ENoG values (OR=5.312, 95% CI=0.626-45.069, p=0.035), HbA1c values (OR=27.470, 95% CI=2.001-43.084, p=0.016), serum E2 levels (OR=1.298, 95% CI=1.092-1.542, p=0.003), and serum testosterone levels (OR=1.892, 95% CI=1.309-2.734, p=0.001) were the independent predictors for facial synkinesis in male patients.ConclusionSerum estradiol levels are associated with the development of facial synkinesis following Bell's palsy in postmenopausal female patients. Serum estradiol and testosterone levels are associated with the development of facial synkinesis following Bell's palsy in male patients. Serum gonadal hormone levels might be acted as potential biomarker for predicting facial synkinesis following Bell's palsy.     

Psychological evaluation for patients with non-cured facial nerve palsy

ObjectiveThe aim of the present study was to evaluate the psychological condition of patients with non-cured facial nerve palsy and to investigate whether their psychological condition is correlated with the degree of facial nerve palsy, synkinesis or quality of life.MethodsThirty patients with non-cured facial nerve palsy were enrolled in this study. Psychological conditions were evaluated by questionnaires including State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and Self-rating Depression Scale.ResultsOf the thirty patients with non-cured facial nerve palsy, 17 (56.7%) and 15 patients (50.0%) felt anxiety and depression, respectively. Although there were no significant correlations between their psychological condition and the degree of facial nerve palsy or that of sequelae, significant correlations were observed between psychological condition and the degree of QOL, especially in terms of social function.Conclusions and significanceDisabilities associated with facial nerve palsy may be overlooked when evaluation is performed by physician-graded instruments alone. To resolve this problem, patients with non-cured facial nerve palsy should be evaluated by not only physician-graded tools but also patient-based assessment tools.     

3 T – MRI improves intrameatal cranial nerve detection in CI-candidates

Background: Cochlear implantation meanwhile is a well established standard therapy in different forms of hearing loss in most ages. Clear depiction of the cochleovestibular anatomy and the cochlear nerve are very important for indication and effectiveness of cochlear implantation.

Aim/objectives: Therefore the question raises whether Highfield MRI improves precision of preoperative diagnostic imaging especially along the the intrameatal portion of the vestibulocochlear nerve.

Methods: We analyzed the MRI scans of 216 temporal bones from 2007 until 2017. In all patients, CI was planned. We compared examinations using 1.5 and 3.0 T MR systems under the aspect of intracanalicular detection of the facial nerve, cochlear nerve, and the vestibular branches.

Results: 3?T-MRI was able to detect the cochlear nerve in all cases, a very important criterion for CI-indication. 3?T-MRI was also superior in the detection of facial nerve and especially the vestibular branches.

Conclusion and significance: The most effective preoperative examination of CI-candidates is the combination of 3?T MRI and multislice HR-CT of the temporal bone.     

Facial nerve neuroma in the geniculate ganglion extending into the internal auditory canal: A case report

Facial nerve schwannoma is a very rare benign tumor representing less than 1% of intrapetrous lesions. Our patient is a forty-one year old female who has suffered from recurrent right facial palsy for the last six years. She was first misdiagnosed as having Bell’s palsy and received corticosteroids which resulted in little improvement. She then had facial nerve decompression surgery which resulted in a partial improvement. Since then, she has suffered from recurrent attacks of facial palsy. Two years ago, she came to our hospital seeking further treatment options. The final diagnosis made by MRI was a possible facial nerve tumor. To obtain a better facial outcome, total tumor removal was performed through the middle cranial fossa approach along with facial-hypoglossal nerve end-to-side anastomosis through transmastoid approach. Her hearing was preserved, and she obtained a better facial outcome than that of her preoperative level. In conclusion, facial nerve schwannoma has the potential to be misdiagnosed as Bell’s palsy which might lead to a delay in diagnosis, and end-to-side neurorrhaphy may be an effective alternative in a selected case.     

The facial nerve in the presence of a head and neck neoplasm: assessment and outcome after surgical management

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The face is the mirror of personality. Facial expression is the most important part of verbal and nonverbal communication. Patients with head and neck neoplasm and facial palsy are more stigmatized by the latter than by the tumor itself. Facial nerve reconstruction in such a patient is a great challenge. This review gives an overview of the assessment of facial palsy, surgical reconstruction, and postoperative treatment. RECENT FINDINGS: MRI, CT, and electromyography are indispensable tools in the assessment of preoperative facial palsy in patients with head and neck neoplasm. When part of the facial nerve has to be sacrificed during surgery, the best functional results are achieved with direct facial nerve suture, interposition graft, or by a hypoglossal-facial nerve interposition jump anastomosis. The latter is the best choice when the reanimation is planned between 6 months and 2 years after tumor surgery. In any case, the eye is best rehabilitated with upper lid loading. Temporalis muscle transposition gives fast and good results for the restoration of the corner of the mouth after radical surgery. Reanimation by free muscle transfer for head and neck cancer patients is rarely indicated. Botulinum toxin treatment is an excellent postoperative aid for refining the result; the optimal modality of postoperative physiotherapy is still unclear. SUMMARY: Surgical reanimation of the face in head and neck patients has reached a high standard. Strategies to decrease misdirected reinnervation after nerve suture have to be established in clinical practice for further improvement of facial rehabilitation.     

Intratemporal facial nerve ultrastructure in patients with idiopathic facial paralysis. Viral infection evidence study

The etiology of idiopathic peripheral facial palsy (IPFP) is still uncertain; however, some authors suggest the possibility of a viral infection.Aimto analyze the ultrastructure of the facial nerve seeking viral evidences that might provide etiological data.Material and MethodsWe studied 20 patients with peripheral facial palsy (PFP), with moderate to severe FP, of both genders, between 18-60 years of age, from the Clinic of Facial Nerve Disorders. The patients were broken down into two groups - Study: eleven patients with IPFP and Control: nine patients with trauma or tumor-related PFP. The fragments were obtained from the facial nerve sheath or from fragments of its stumps - which would be discarded or sent to pathology exam during the facial nerve repair surgery. The removed tissue was fixed in 2% glutaraldehyde, and studied under Electronic Transmission Microscopy.ResultsIn the study group we observed an intense repair cellular activity by increased collagen fibers, fibroblasts containing developed organelles, free of viral particles. In the control group this repair activity was not evident, but no viral particles were observed.ConclusionThere were no viral particles, and there were evidences of intense activity of repair or viral infection.     

What Really Decides the Facial Function of Vestibular Schwannoma Surgery?

Objectives

To find the main cause of facial nerve dysfunction in vestibular schwannoma (VS) surgery and review the prognosis of facial function in relation to tumor size, preoperative facial function and surgical approach.

Methods

We reviewed the surgical outcome of 134 patients with VS treated in our department between 1994 and 2008. All patients included in the study had postoperative facial paralysis after surgical management of their VS. There were 14 women and 7 men. The mean age was 48.5 years, with a mean follow-up period of 57 months.

Results

Twenty-one patients (sustained facial palsy, 4; newly developed facial palsy, 17) had facial nerve paralysis after surgery: ten patients in large VS and eleven patients in small VS. In large VS group, 4 patients had facial nerve function of HB grade II, 3 patients had HB grade III, and 3 patients had HB grade IV. In small VS group, 9 patients had HB grade II and 2 patients had HB grade IV. Middle cranial fossa approach rather than translabyrinthine approach for the preservation of hearing, led to facial nerve deterioration and the patients who had facial nerve paralysis perioperatively, had resulted in permanent facial paralysis.

Conclusion

The tumor size in VS is certainly one of the most important prognostic factors. However, VS tumor size alone should not be considered a unique prognostic indicator. The surgical approach used, which may be related to tumor size, based on the surgeon''s experience, can be a deciding factor, and the status of the facial nerve injured by the tumor can influence postoperative facial nerve function.     

Iatrogenic facial nerve exposure in cochlear implant surgery: incidence and clinical significance in the absence of intra-operative nerve monitoring

Objectives: Iatrogenic facial nerve injury is one of the most feared complications of cochlear implantation. Intraoperative facial nerve monitoring is used as an adjunctive modality in a variety of neurotologic surgeries including cochlear implantation. With the lack of nerve monitoring, there is a theoretically higher risk of iatrogenic fallopian canal dehiscence with facial nerve exposure, particularly the mastoid portion, during cochlear implant surgery. The purpose of this study is to determine the incidence of iatrogenic exposure of the facial nerve and its relation to the incidence of post-operative facial paralysis in the absence of facial nerve monitoring.

Methods: This was a retrospective study. Medical charts of 307 patients who underwent cochlear implantation without facial nerve monitoring, from 2012 to 2017 were reviewed to identify cases with a reported iatrogenic defect over the mastoid facial nerve. The incidence of post-operative facial palsy was determined and compared to the incidence with the use of intra-operative monitoring which has been reported in the literature.

Results: The incidence of iatrogenic dehiscence with facial nerve exposure was 46.58%. However, the incidence of post-operative facial palsy was only 2.1% which decreased to 0.72% in cases without injury of the facial neural sheath. This was not significantly different from the 0.73% rate reported in the literature with the use of intra-operative facial monitoring (P?=?0.99).

Conclusion: The incidence of iatrogenic facial nerve exposure during cochlear implantation may be relatively high. However, no additional risk of post-operative facial nerve paralysis was found, provided that the integrity of the neural sheath was preserved, even with the lack of intra-operative monitoring.     

Clinical significance of quantitative analysis of facial nerve enhancement on MRI in Bell's palsy

Conclusions. Quantitative analysis of the facial nerve on the lesion side as well as the normal side, which allowed for more accurate measurement of facial nerve enhancement in patients with facial palsy, showed statistically significant correlation with the initial severity of facial nerve inflammation, although little prognostic significance was shown. Objectives. This study investigated the clinical significance of quantitative measurement of facial nerve enhancement in patients with Bell's palsy by analyzing the enhancement pattern and correlating MRI findings with initial severity of facial palsy and clinical outcome. Subjects and methods. Facial nerve enhancement was measured quantitatively by using the region of interest on pre- and post-contrast T1-weighted images in 44 patients diagnosed with Bell's palsy. The signal intensity increase on the lesion side was first compared with that of the contralateral side and then correlated with the initial degree of facial palsy and prognosis. Results. The lesion side showed significantly higher signal intensity increase compared with the normal side in all of the segments except for the mastoid segment. Signal intensity increase at the internal auditory canal and labyrinthine segments showed correlation with the initial degree of facial palsy but no significant difference was found between different prognostic groups.     

耳内镜辅助下桥小脑角手术

目的探索耳内镜在桥小脑角(CPA)手术中的应用.方法自2002年11月以来采用耳内镜结合显微镜开展CPA微创手术12例,手术均采用全麻下乙状窦后入路,并行面神经肌电位和听性脑干诱发电位术中监测.听神经瘤7例,桥小脑角面神经肿瘤2例,三叉神经鞘瘤1例,对肿瘤病例内镜主要用于检查内耳道底部有否残留病灶,探查面神经位置和走行,分离残留瘤体.舌咽神经痛1例,内镜下显露CPA和内听道口,显露后组颅神经,并确认舌咽神经,将其游离,用微型剪将之切断.半面痉挛1例,用30°内镜观察内听道口的解剖和后组颅神经的位置,在不牵拉小脑的情况下寻找对面神经形成压迫的责任血管.面神经功能按House-Brackmann分级标准评价.结果所有病例均顺利完成,无死亡病例,无并发后组颅神经损伤.听神经瘤7例,6例全切,1例绝大部分切除,残留脑干表面和内听道内的少许囊壁;均保留面神经解剖结构完整,术后一周面神经功能Ⅰ级2例,Ⅱ级3例(术后3个月Ⅰ级),Ⅲ级2例(术后3个月分别为Ⅰ级和Ⅱ级).面神经鞘瘤2例,肿瘤均全切,1例保留面神经解剖结构完整,术后面神经功能Ⅲ级,术后3个月Ⅱ级,另1例面神经连同肿瘤一起切除,一期面神经-舌下神经吻合,术后1年面神经功能Ⅱ级.三叉神经鞘瘤1例,肿瘤全切,术后一周面神经功能Ⅲ级,术后3个月Ⅱ级.听神经瘤7例术前有残余听力4例,术后有1例保存术前听力;面神经肿瘤2例,术后保存残余听力1例;其余肿瘤病例术后均未保存听力.舌咽神经切断术后症状完全消失,随诊6个月未复发.面神经微血减管压并梳理术后症状明显好转,间断轻度抽搐,面神经功能Ⅱ级,随访1年仍只为轻度抽搐.结论耳内镜与手术显微镜有机结合,达到桥小脑角手术微创的目的,既可清除病变,又能最大限度地保存功能.但耳内镜目前还只是一种辅助的手段,仍有一定局限性,需进一步完善.     

CT VIRTUAL ENDOSCOPY IN ASSESSING OSSICULAR CHAIN DISRUPTION CSUSED BY TEMPORAL BONE FRACTURE AND EAR TRAUMA

Objective To explore the value of computed tomography virtual endoscopy (VE) in assessing ossicular chain disruption in temporal bone fracture and ear trauma with intact tympanum. Methods High resolution spiral computerized tomography (CT) was completed in 35 cases of temporal bone fracture and 5 cases of tympanum trauma, all with intact or healed tympanum. Three-dimensional reconstruction was completed us-ing a virtual endoscopy software. Audiological tests were conducted in all patients and evaluation of facial nerve injury in patients with facial paralysis. Patients with mild conductive deafness, ossicular chain sublux-ation on VE, and no facial paralysis were treated conservatively for 4-12 weeks with repeated hearing evalu-ation; those with facial paralysis underwent surgery if no recovery after 4-8 weeks of conservative treat-ment. Patients with moderate to severe conductive hearing loss or mixed hearing loss, incus long process fracture or dislocation on VE and facial paralysis, underwent ossicular chain reconstruction and facial nerve decompression after conservative treatment for 4-8 weeks, or exploratory tympanotomy only if no facial pa-ralysis. VE, audiological tests and facial nerve function tests were repeated in 3-6 months after surgery. Re-sults Of the 6 cases with mild conductive hearing loss, ossicular chain subluxation and no facial paralysis, 3 recovered to normal hearing spontaneously and 3 showed no significant improvement, after 4-12 weeks of conservative treatment. After conservative treatment for 4-8 weeks, 3 of the 12 cases with mild conductive deafness, ossicular chain dislocation on VE and facial paralysis recovered to normal hearing and House-Brackmann (HB) grade I facial function from HB grade II ,4 showed facial function recovery to HB grade I (n=2) or II (n=2) from HB grade III but no hearing recovery, and 5 gained no recovery and went on to receive exploratory tympanotomy and facial nerve decompression. The 11 cases with moderate to severe conductive deafness, incus long process fracture or dislocation on VE and facial paralysis all received ossic-ular chain reconstruction and facial nerve decompression after 4-8 weeks of conservative treatment. The 7 cases with moderate to severe conductive deafness, dislocated or fallen incus on VE but no facial paralysis received ossicular chain reconstruction after conservative treatment. The 4 cases with mixed hearing loss, dislocated or fallen incus on VE and no facial paralysis received ossicular chain repair via the intact canal wall epitympanum approach after conservative treatment. Pharmacological therapies continued postopera-tively in these patients to treat sensorineural deafness. Although temporal bone CT scans displayed the frac-ture line and malleus/incus abnormalities, VE provided additional detailed information on dislocation of in-cudomalleal and incudostapedial joints, incus dislocation or fracture, separation between crus longum incu-dis and stapes, and incus shifting. These were all confirmed during surgery. VE results and surgery findings were 100%consistent in patients with ossicular chain disruption. Conclusion VE can provide reliable visual evidence for accurate assessment of traumatic ossicular chain disruption, timing of surgery and individualiz-ing surgical strategies and postoperative follow-up.     

Monitorización intraoperatoria del nervio facial durante la cirugía de la glándula parótida en servicios de otorrinolaringología - cirugía de cabeza y cuello

IntroductionFacial nerve injury remains the most severe complication of parotid gland surgery. Due to the increasing evidence about the advantage of the use of intraoperative facial nerve monitoring, a survey was distributed among members of the Spanish Society of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery with the objective of determining patterns of its use.Material and methodsA questionnaire which included 12 separate questions in 3 sections was distributed via email through the official email of the Spanish Society of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. The first section of questions was in relation to demographic characteristics, the second section was related to the pattern of monitoring use and the third section referred to litigation related to facial palsy.Results1544 anonymous questionnaires were emailed. 255 surveys were returned, giving an overall response rate of 16.5%. From these, 233 (91.3%) respondents perform parotid gland surgery. Two-hundred nineteen (94%) respondents use intraoperative facial nerve monitoring. Of the respondents,94% used intraoperative facial nerve monitoring if in their current practice they performed fewer than 10 parotidectomies per year and 93.8% if they performed more than 10 (OR, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.68-1.45; p = .991). With regard to lawsuits, just 3 (1.2%) of the respondents had a history of a parotid gland surgery–associated lawsuit and in just one case the facial nerve monitor was not used.ConclusionOur data demonstrate that most otolaryngologists in Spain use intraoperative facial nerve monitoring during parotid gland surgery. Almost all of them use it to improve patient safety and consider that facial nerve monitoring should be helpful preventing inadvertent injury.     

Surgical procedure for Warthin's tumor in the parotid gland

Warthin's tumor is benign and exclusively involves the parotid gland but may, however, often show multifocal and/or bilateral growth. The aim of this study was to evaluate the surgical procedure for removal of this tumor. Sixty patients with Warthin's tumor in the parotid gland who presented at the Kansai Medical University Hospital from 1990 to 1999 were the subjects of the present study. The surgical procedures were as follows. We performed enucleation for tumors in the deep lobe. Tumors in the superficial lobe were resected with partial parotidectomy, and an enucleative procedure was also performed at the bottom of the tumor where the tumor capsule directly touched the facial nerve. No recurrence was observed in all sixty cases including cases of rupture of the capsule before or during surgery. Therefore, we recommend that enucleation is a useful choice as a surgical procedure for the removal of Warthin's tumor after accurate detection of the tumors using MRI. The overall incidences of temporary and permanent facial nerve palsy were 19.7% and 0%, respectively. The incidence of palsy increased after surgery for multiple tumors or deep lobe tumors. These findings indicate that more careful consideration for preservation of the facial nerve should be given in such cases and that simultaneous surgery for such tumors in the bilateral parotid glands should be avoided to prevent bilateral facial nerve palsy.