Stapedectomy modified by the application of fibrin tissue adhesive.

Certain failures of the stapes operation are caused by loosening of the crimped metal loop on the long process of the incus, atrophy or necrosis of the lenticular process, erosion of the long process with the prosthesis causing injury to the labyrinth, erosion of the incudostapedial joint with upward rotation of the long process, and dislocation of the prosthesis. To reduce the occurrences of these failures following stapes removal, we close the oval window by gluing a fascia graft into place with fibrin tissue adhesive. A ceramic strut with a cup on its upper end that fits the lenticular process is glued between the fascia graft and the lenticular process. This method does not cause bone necrosis or blood circulation disturbances. The hearing results are the same or better than those reported for other stapes procedures.     

Traumatic dislocation of the incudostapedial joint repaired with fibrin tissue adhesive

We present a case of traumatic dislocation of the incudostapedial joint (ISJ) and a simple method for controlled application of the glue using commercial fibrin tissue adhesive. A 26-year-old female presented to our ENT clinic for hearing impairment to her left ear 2 months after a head trauma due to a motorcycle accident. The audiogram revealed a 40- to 50-dB HL conductive hearing loss with a notch configuration in bone conduction curve on the left ear. Computed tomography of the left temporal bone revealed a longitudinal fracture line. An exploratory tympanotomy was performed under general anesthesia. The ISJ was found dislocated while the incus was trapped by the edges of the bony lateral attic wall fracture. A small bony edge that impeded incus movement was removed and a small amount of the glue was precisely applied to the lenticular process of the incus with an angled incision knife. The long process of the incus was firmly pressed over the stapes for 30 seconds with a 90° hook and 60 seconds after the application of the glue the ISJ was repaired. One year after our patient achieved full airbone gap (ABG) closure (ABG, ≤10 dB HL), while she demonstrated overclosure in frequencies 2 and 4 kHz. Fibrin tissue glue allowed safe, rapid, and accurate repair of the ISJ and resulted in an anatomically normal articulation as the mass and shape of the ossicles was preserved. Moreover, our patient achieved full ABG closure.     

镫骨提高术的解剖学研究与临床观察

目的：探求进一步提高镫骨提高术疗效的途径。方法：对15具新鲜尸头的砧、镫骨及前庭窗等作解剖学研究，对有关本手术的数据进行观测。结果（以x±s计）：砧镫间夹角为91．90±4．49（83～100）°、豆状突长度为0．46±0．04（0．40～0．56）mm、镫骨头颈高度为0．61±0．04（0．56～0．68）mm、足板下缘厚度为0．30±0．04（0．26～0．40）mm，以及前庭窗龛上下壁倾角为35．28±3．86（31～39）°、16．75±1．89（14～18）°。据此，对经现行的两种术式治疗的病例，分别作近期与远期疗效比较，差异均无显著性意义。结论：两种术式均基本符合生理解剖学结构原理，但根据解剖结构有时也需选择术式。此外常规应用生物胶粘合剂或滴入血液以稳固砧镫联结，是谋求提高疗效的一项可行办法。     

镫骨赝附体与砧骨长脚之间连接状态对声音传导的影响

目的探讨镫骨赝附体与砧骨长脚间连接程度对声音传导的影响,为镫骨手术寻找理论依据和更好的指导临床工作.方法17例新鲜尸体颞骨标本,在不同强度的机械刺激下,采用激光多普勒振动仪研究镫骨赝附体与砧骨长脚间不同的连接程度对声音传导的影响.结果将镫骨赝附体与砧骨长脚的连接程度,由三位医师分别对内镜和扫描电镜在颞骨标本中采集的镫骨赝附体与砧骨长脚之间连接的图像进行评分,分为紧密连接、松弛连接和未连接,三位医师的评分结果基本一致.分别对上述三种连接程度,在500mV、800mV和1200 mV的机械刺激下,用激光多普勒振动仪测试砧骨长脚侧与镫骨赝附体间的振动差距,经过专门的计算机软件处理,换算为声刺激模式,发现紧密连接时,声音的传导在此连接上损失2 dB,小于砧镫关节生理性的声损失3 dB,松弛连接和未连接对声音的传导在此连接上的损失很大,高达28 dB不等,平均为10 dB.结论镫骨手术时镫骨赝附体与砧骨长脚连接紧密,声传导损失接近砧镫关节的生理性声传导损失.     

完壁式上鼓室进路鼓室探查术治疗外伤性听骨链中断

目的:评估完壁式上鼓室进路鼓室探查术治疗外伤性听骨链中断的临床疗效.方法:10例(耳)颞骨骨折和耳外伤而鼓膜完整的患者,颞骨CT轴位示锤砧关节不规整,冠状位示砧镫关节不连续.虚拟耳镜示锤砧关节分离,砧镫关节脱位,听骨链中断.手术经颞线下开放上鼓室,保留完整的外耳道后上壁,充分暴露上、后鼓室和听骨链,检查并行听骨链成形术.结果:砧骨长脚骨折1耳,将砧骨改型后行锤-镫连接术;锤砧和砧镫关节脱位6耳,砧骨完全脱落3耳,行砧骨复位双关节固定术.10耳均行上鼓室进路鼓室探查术,术后语频听力平均提高25～50 dB.结论:完壁式上鼓室进路鼓室探查术治疗外伤性听骨链中断疗效满意.     

Reconstructing the absent lenticular process

When a surgeon encounters an absent lenticular process of the incus, he must either reposition the incus or attempt to bridge the small gap between the remaining incus long process and the stapes capitulum. Our solution to this problem is to place a Lippy modified Robinson stapes prosthesis on the stapes footplate and attach it to the remaining long process, thus bypassing the stapes superstructure. This modified Robinson prosthesis has a portion of the well removed allowing the eroded long process to enter from the side. The hearing results of 63 cases at 6 months (two-thirds of which had a concurrent tympanoplasty) are 67% within 10 dB and 91% within 20 dB of the preoperative bone hearing level. The use of an existing and proven prosthesis provides both stability and, to date, the most successful hearing results for reconstructing the absent lenticular process.     

The use of bone cement for ossicular chain defects

Bone cement is a good and cheap option for some ossicular chain problems such as incudostapedial re-bridging. The purpose of this retrospective study is to evaluate the audiologic results after reconstruction of three different types of ossicular chain defects, using bone cement. Group 1 consists of 42 patients who underwent an ossiculoplasty using bone cement between the damaged long process of the incus and an intact stapes superstructure. Group 2 consists of 46 patients in which incus interposition between malleus and stapes superstructure was performed, using bone cement to fix the interposed incus. For group 3, consisting of 32 patients who had a present malleus, a defective long process of the incus and a missing stapes superstructure, a re-shaped incus was placed between the stapes footplate and the malleus and bone cement was again used as a fixator. Preoperative and postoperative pure-tone audiometric findings were obtained and hearing differences were assessed. The mean preoperative and postoperative air-bone gaps were 34.8 and 15.6, 35 and 18.4, and 43.4 and 19.8 for groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. There was a significant improvement in hearing outcomes in all the groups when comparing preoperative and postoperative mean air-bone gaps (p < 0.001). The postoperative air-bone gap was ≤20 dB in 76 % of patients in group 1, 64 % of patients in group 2, and 46 % of patients in group 3. Bone cement is an effective and cheap option for some ossicular chain problems such as incudostapedial re-bridging. It may also be used to fix the interposed incus to the stapes superstructure and/or malleus to avert displacement.     

Allograft stapes surgery for conductive hearing loss in patients with ossicular chain anomalies

An allograft stapes was used during surgical intervention for conductive hearing loss due to ossicular malformations in 11 ears of seven patients. The external auditory canal and tympanic membrane were normal in all ears. The surgical findings for the ossicles were stapes fixation (7 ears), stapes fixation with discontinuity of the incudostapedial joint (in both ears of one patient), a deformed incus and stapes crura compressed by the facial nerve (one ear in which the stapes was not fixed) and an anomaly of the incus and stapes combined with a dermoid cyst (in one ear in which the stapes was also not fixed). In all ears, the following procedures were performed: stapedectomy followed by sealing the oval window with a vein graft and placing an allograft stapes between the oval window and the lenticular process of the incus or the handle of the malleus. The allograft stapes was placed with its capitulum on the oval window in all cases, and fibrin glue was used for stabilizing the seal and the allograft stapes. The indications for stapedectomy for conductive hearing loss due to ossicular chain anomalies and the utility of allograft stapes are discussed.     

The use of tragal cartilage in ossicular reconstruction.

Readily available tragal cartilage has been found to be a very beneficial autogenous graft source for construction of prostheses to correct those defects in the ossicular chain that frequently occur when the incudostapedial joint is destroyed by middle ear pathology, particularly by the retraction of the posterior, superior quadrant of the tympanic membrane against and/or around the incudostapedial connection. This is true whether there be only erosion of the incus just at the joint, or whether there is erosion of the entire long process of the incus together with the superstructure of the stapes. The various types of deformity and the particular tragal cartilage prosthesis tailored for each deformity, and designed for maximum gain in hearing, are presented together with representative pre- and postoperative audiograms for the variety of types.     

Stapes Vibration in the Chinchilla Middle Ear: Relation to Behavioral and Auditory-Nerve Thresholds

The vibratory responses to tones of the stapes and incus were measured in the middle ears of deeply anesthetized chinchillas using a wide-band acoustic-stimulus system and a laser velocimeter coupled to a microscope. With the laser beam at an angle of about 40 ° relative to the axis of stapes piston-like motion, the sensitivity-vs.-frequency curves of vibrations at the head of the stapes and the incus lenticular process were very similar to each other but larger, in the range 15–30 kHz, than the vibrations of the incus just peripheral to the pedicle. With the laser beam aligned with the axis of piston-like stapes motion, vibrations of the incus just peripheral to its pedicle were very similar to the vibrations of the lenticular process or the stapes head measured at the 40 ° angle. Thus, the pedicle prevents transmission to the stapes of components of incus vibration not aligned with the axis of stapes piston-like motion. The mean magnitude curve of stapes velocities is fairly flat over a wide frequency range, with a mean value of about 0.19 mm^.(s Pa⁻¹), has a high-frequency cutoff of 25 kHz (measured at −3 dB re the mean value), and decreases with a slope of about −60 dB/octave at higher frequencies. According to our measurements, the chinchilla middle ear transmits acoustic signals into the cochlea at frequencies exceeding both the bandwidth of responses of auditory-nerve fibers and the upper cutoff of hearing. The phase lags of stapes velocity relative to ear-canal pressure increase approximately linearly, with slopes equivalent to pure delays of about 57–76 μs.     

Diagnosis of the ossicular chain in the middle ear by high-resolution CT.

This study was conducted to assess the usefulness and limitations of high-resolution CT for diagnosing the ossicular chain in the middle ear. The CT images in this study were obtained in as much detail as possible and 2 direction images. Preoperative CT findings of the ossicular chain were compared with operative findings in 26 patients with ossicular defects. Preoperative detection of the complete defect of the malleus head and the body and long process of the incus by high-resolution CT was possible in all cases, while detection of the defect of the manubrium of the malleus and superstructure of the stapes could be made in 33.3 and 60%, respectively. The defect of the incudostapedial joint (1 case) and partial defect of the stapes crus (2 cases) could not be diagnosed correctly by preoperative estimation.     

Involvement of the incudostapedial joint anomaly in conductive deafness

CONCLUSION: The outcome of surgery depends on complexities of middle ear anomalies and definite diagnosis can only be achieved during exploratory tympanotomy. We must be aware that the pathology of the congenital ossicular anomalies is variable and careful surgery is needed for hearing improvement. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate congenital ossicular malformation. SUBJECTS AND METHOds: Fifteen cases of ossicular anomalies without external ear malformation were studied. The anomaly of the incus-stapes complex was the most frequent. There were two cases of fused incudostapedial (IS) joint, which is an extremely rare occurrence. Case 1 was a 33-year-old man, in whom otosclerosis was suspected and exploratory tympanotomy was performed. The IS joint was fused, and the stapes was immobile. Small fenestra stapedectomy was performed. In case 2, a 52-year-old woman, otosclerosis was also suspected and exploratory tympanotomy was performed. The IS joint was fused and the incus was fixed. After the long process of the incus was cut, the stapes became mobile. However, since the incus remained immobile, it was removed and was placed on the stapes. In both cases, the hearing improved after surgery. The averaged hearing gain of 15 cases was 28.8 dB.     

外伤所致传导性耳聋的诊断与手术治疗(附20例报告)

目的 分析外伤所致传导性耳聋的症状体征、听力学表现及影像学特点,总结诊断要点和手术治疗效果.方法 回顾性分析解放军总医院2008年1月～2011年3月收治的具有明确外伤史、鼓膜完整的传导性听力下降患者20例.每位患者均进行详细病史询问、临床检查、听力测试和影像检查.行鼓室探查术,根据患者听骨链损伤的不同类型,行听骨链重建术.术后1～3个月复查纯音听力,比较术前和术后的纯音听阈,总结分析手术治疗效果.结果 本组20例患者,手术探查听骨链发现砧骨移位14例,包括砧镫关节脱位、锤砧关节分离以及二者兼具的听骨链损伤,锤骨移位且粘连固定2例,镫骨足弓骨折2例,砧骨长脚骨折1例,镫骨底板自前庭窗脱出1例;其中3例砧骨移位患者术中可见面神经明显水肿.根据鼓室探查情况行相应的听骨链重建术,15例行自体听骨雕凿后的听骨链重建术,1例行砧镫关节复位术,4例行人工听骨植入术,3例合并面瘫患者行听骨链重建术的同时行面神经减压术.术后1～3个月随访,患者自觉听力提高,纯音测听示言语频率内气导平均听阈恢复至30±11 dB,平均气骨导差为18±10 dB.伴有面瘫患者的面神经功能恢复至HBⅠ级.结论 有外伤史的患者如有听力下降,应行全面细致的耳科检查、听力学检查和高分辨颞骨CT扫描,如纯音测听气导听阈下降且存在明显的气骨导差,或颞骨CT显示听骨链形态异常,应考虑系听骨链中断引起的传导性耳聋.应根据听骨链损伤的不同类型,重建听骨链,恢复患者听力,合并面瘫者,同时行面神经探查减压手术.     

Use of glass ionomer cement in surgery of the incus-stapedial joint. An initial report of experiences

Chronic inflammations of the middle ear are characterised by perforation of the tympanic membrane as well as hearing loss, due to disintegration in the incudostapedial joint. Usually the perforation is easily restored by means of available modern procedures; on the other hand, failure of the reconstruction of the ossicular chain, especially of the incudostapedial joint, is not uncommon. Hence, the improvement of hearing capacity is transitory, since later, due to scars, graft lateralisation results in a dislocation of the primarily reconstructed ossicular chain. The patient's hearing capacity is then as poor as it has been before surgery. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the ways of satisfactory reconstruction of the incudostapedial joint by means of glass-ionomer cement: 1. Scar tissue connecting the ossicles in slight defects of the incudostapedial joint can be stabilised by glass-ionomer cement leading to a reasonable sound transmission. 2. If the incus has to be removed in case of a more serious defect, the columella can be properly fixed to the stapes by means of glass-ionomer cement without the risk of scar-induced lateralisation. 3. The fixation of the stapes prosthesis' wire loop to the incus can be effectively achieved by glass-ionomer cement.     

Technic and spate results of stapedotomy

The long-term results of 253 stapedotomies and of 444 stapedectomies were compared. Stapedotomy yielded significantly better and more stable results for the higher frequency range (1-4 kHz) than stapedectomy. Reversal of the classic sequence of the surgical steps of stapedectomy has improved the precision of the technique and reduced the possibility of inner ear trauma. Perforation of the footplate and the introduction of the prosthesis into the stapedotomy opening and its crimping to the long process of the incus are performed before separating the incudostapedial joint and removing the stapes arch. For optimal results the 0.4 mm platinum teflon prosthesis should protrude 0.5 mm into the vestibule. If the incus is too short or the oval window niche too narrow the prosthesis is attached directly to the malleus handle, bypassing the incus.     

中耳传声过程中砧镫关节声损失的研究

目的为了研究声音在中耳传递过程中在砧镫关节上的声损失,深入了解中耳传声中的机制和方式,并探讨其意义,为中耳手术中听骨链重建,尤其是为耳硬化手术中镫骨赝复物与砧骨长脚的嵌合的理想程度寻找理论依据。方法本试验研究了17个新鲜颞骨标本。用2个颞骨进行了机械刺激时的磁场矫正。采用激光多普勒振动仪,分别在声刺激和机械刺激下,对15个新鲜颞骨标本进行了研究。首先测量在80dB声刺激(声压级,下同)下镫骨底板的位移,然后在机械刺激条件下得到等同于80dB声刺激的镫骨底板位移以建立试验体系并保证试验体系的准确性。在等同于80dB声刺激的机械刺激条件下,测量10个颞骨标本砧镫关节的声损失。结果在所测量的频率中,砧镫关节上的声损失在3dB以内。结论中耳传声过程中,在砧镫关节上存在着声损失,这种损失是生理性和保护性的。     

镫骨足弓进行性萎缩和镫骨足弓鼓岬粘连

目的介绍二种少见镫骨病变-足弓与鼓岬粘连和足弓萎缩引起传导性耳聋及其处理的结果.方法例1,女性17岁,右耳进行性听力下降伴耳鸣2年半.手术见镫骨头在颈部与足弓脱离,足板活动,镫骨苍白.取耳道薄骨片,修成叉柱状,尖抵足板,紧贴足弓叉起砧骨长突.术后语言频率(0.5-2KHz)气骨导差闭合到10dB以内.例2男性16岁,右耳非渐进耳聋3年.手术见砧骨长突较长,镫骨与砧骨豆状突连接紧密,但镫骨过于倾斜,足弓与卵圆窗下缘的鼓岬紧贴粘连,致镫骨活动受限.分离砧镫关节,切断镫骨肌,分离粘连,将镫骨足弓向上方移位并抬高.术后气骨导差闭合.结果分别在2年和1年后随访,听力保持术后水平.结论镫足弓进行性萎缩可能是局部缺血所致退行变,镫骨弓与鼓岬粘连可能是先天解剖变异加上后天炎症肿胀引起,临床上都少见.用不切开足板的微创方法解决青少年镫骨病变较为有利.     

Mutation of the POU-domain gene Brn4/Pou3f4 affects middle-ear sound conduction in the mouse

Mutagenesis of the POU-domain gene Brn4/Pou3f4 causes defects in the cochlear duct, semicircular canal, temporal bone and stapes footplate. The footplate defect suggested a middle-ear conductive component to the hearing loss associated with this mutation. This was examined by measuring velocity transfer functions at the umbo of wild type and knockout mice during sound stimulation of the tympanic membrane. When the median umbo velocity of test frequencies in the two groups were compared, the mid-range frequencies of the knockout mice showed a statistically reliable reduction in velocity (maximum of 13 dB) and high variability among animals. These results indicated that mutation of the POU-domain gene, Brn4, changed middle-ear sound conduction when measured at the umbo. The origin of the abnormal velocity response was sought by puncturing a hole in the pars flaccida (PF), and subsequently, measuring movements at the umbo and the head of the long arm of the incus. This hole permitted us to measure velocity at the tip of the incus long arm, just above the incudostapedial joint. The comparison of umbo behavior in both groups with PF perforated showed a loss of sensitivity in the mid-range frequencies of the knockout animals. A comparison of incus velocity in the two groups also exhibited a velocity reduction in the mid-range frequencies of the knockout animals. The reduction at the incus, however, was milder than observed at the umbo. The effect of the perforation in, and variability of, the knockout incus responses may have masked a more potent mid-range frequency effect. Nevertheless, evaluation of the stapes and oval window in knockout mice showed variable pathology from ear to ear. The presence of this pathology, the mid-frequency loss in incus sensitivity and the variability in incus velocity among animals suggested that abnormal stapes behavior in Brn4 deficient mice may determine the response of the ossicles, and thus account for the abnormal mid-frequency umbo behavior seen in knockout animals.     

Congenital ossicular anomalies without malformations of the external ear

Summary Eighteen ears of congenital ossicular malformation without deformities of the external ear were presented. They were classified into three groups; eight incudostapedial joint separations, three malleus and/or incus fixations, and seven stapes fixations.The surgical correction for the first group was to connect the malleus handle to the stapes using a silicon tube specially designed or a gelfoam wire in the uncustomary way. This group showed the best surgical results with 35.4 dB of the average hearing gain in speech frequencies. In the second group, removal of the fixed part of the ossicles yielded satisfactory results, but mobilization failed to improve the hearing. For the group of stapes fixation, stapedectomy and the gelfoam wire prosthesis were performed. The result was not satisfactory in some cases with the undeveloped oval window.The embryological consideration leads us to the following conjecture; the incudostapedial joint separation results from the failure in build-up of the secondary continuity, the malleus and/or incus fixation is the result of disturbances in separation process by the undifferentiated mesenchyme, and the stapes fixation is due to maldevelopment of the stapedial lamina. This classification for the congenital ossicular malformation is practically valid as it would suggest the maldeveloped point in ossicular genesis and results of surgical correction.