Clinical Outcomes of Silk Patch in Acute Tympanic Membrane Perforation

Objectives

The silk patch is a thin transparent patch that is produced from silk fibroin. In this study, we investigated the treatment effects of the silk patch in patients with traumatic tympanic membrane perforation (TTMP).

Methods

The closure rate, otorrhea rate, and closure time in all patients and the closure time in successful patients were compared between the paper patch and silk patch groups.

Results

Demographic data (gender, site, age, traumatic duration, preoperative air-bone gap, and perforation size and location) were not significantly different between the two groups. The closure rate and otorrhea rate were not significantly different between the two groups. However, the closure time was different between the two groups (closure time of all patients, P=0.031; closure time of successful patients, P=0.037).

Conclusion

The silk patch which has transparent, elastic, adhesive, and hyper-keratinizing properties results in a more efficient closure time than the paper patch in the treatment of TTMP patients. We therefore believe that the silk patch should be recommended for the treatment of acute tympanic membrane perforation.     

耳屏软骨环-软骨膜鼓膜成形术

目的探讨用耳屏软骨环-软骨膜行鼓膜成形术的远期疗效。方法对59例(59耳)和54例(54耳)鼓膜大穿孔患者分别用耳屏软骨环-软骨膜(简称软骨组)和颞肌筋膜(简称筋膜组)行鼓膜穿孔修补,分别于术后1、3、6个月、1年及3年追踪观察鼓膜生长情况并行纯音听阈检查,对结果行统计学分析。结果鼓膜穿孔愈合率:软骨组近期(术后3个月内)为89.8%,远期(3年)为89.1%;筋膜组近期为81.5%,远期为71.5%;两者鼓膜愈合率近期对比无显著差异(χ2=1.617,P>0.05),远期具有显著差异(χ2=4.41,P<0.05)。听力改善情况:软骨组术后1个月与术前比较、术后3个月与术后1个月比较,听力显著提高(t=4.32,P<0.001);术后6个月、1年、3年与术后3个月听力保持稳定(t=1.39,P>0.05);筋膜组术后1个月与术前比较、术后3个月与术后1个月比较听力均有明显改善(t=4.12,P<0.001),术后6个月、1年、3年比术后3个月听力则有所减退(t=2.17,P<0.05),下降至术后1个月的水平。两组间比较:远期听力改善情况软骨组明显优于筋膜组(t=5.03,P<0.0001)。结论软骨环-软骨膜是修复鼓膜大穿孔的理想材料,其远期愈合率高,听力恢复效果稳定。     

Endoscopic "Push-Trough" Technique Cartilage Myringoplasty in Anterior Tympanic Membrane Perforations

Objectives

To evaluate endoscopic push-through technique cartilage myringoplasty results.

Methods

This prospective study was performed on patients with anterior tympanic membrane perforations and endoscopic push-through technique cartilage myringoplasty was performed between 2011 and 2013. The patients who did not have any cholesteatoma or otorrhea in the previous 3 months, and had an air bone gap ≤25 dB in their preoperative audiograms were included in the study. They were followed up with endoscopic examination and audiograms at 2nd, 6th, 12th, and 24th postoperative months. Pure tone averages were calculated at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz frequencies.

Results

Of 32 patients, 19 were females and 13 were males. The mean age was 40.3 years (range, 16 to 62 years), and the mean follow-up period was 12.4 months (range, 6 to 24 months). Graft success rate was 87.5% in this study. Preoperative mean air conduction hearing threshold was 25.9 dB, and the mean air-bone gap was 11.9 dB while these values improved to 19.5 dB and 5.3 dB respectively in the postoperative period. The mean hearing gain was 6.4 dB. The analysis of preoperative and postoperative mean air conduction thresholds and air bone gap values of the patients revealed statistically significant differences.

Conclusion

Underlay cartilage myringoplasty with endoscopic push-through technique in anterior quadrant tympanic membrane perforations is an effective, minimally invasive and feasible method.     

软骨－软骨膜复合体重建鼓膜的组织学变化

目的：探讨软骨－软骨膜复合体修补鼓膜穿孔后其软骨厚度及软骨膜内血管密度的变化。方法45只雄性豚鼠随机分为A、B、C三组,每组15只,每只豚鼠分别于左侧耳制作鼓膜穿孔模型后立即采用同侧耳甲腔软骨－软骨膜复合体植入修补鼓膜,植入前先测量并记录植入复合体的厚度,分别观察术后2周（A组）、6周（B组）及12周（C组）植入复合体的厚度、软骨膜内血管密度;另取B组5只豚鼠的右耳（对照组）行鼓膜穿孔造模,不行鼓膜修补术。结果 A、B、C三组豚鼠左耳鼓膜穿孔平均愈合时间为3．8±0．84天,对照组鼓膜穿孔自愈时间为7．2±0．84天;A、B、C三组软骨－软骨膜复合体植入前厚度分别为0．199±0．023、0．198±0．017、0．193±0．021mm ,三组间差异无统计学意义（ P＞0．05）,而植入后2周（A组）植入体厚度为0．227±0．024mm ,较植入前增厚,植入后6周（B组）植入体厚度为0．191±0．016mm ,较植入前无变化（ P＞0．05）,但较植入后2周（A组）变薄（ P＝0．016）,植入后12周的C组植入体厚度为0．169±0．017mm ,较植入前明显变薄（ P＜0．05）,且较植入后2周（A组）、6周（B组）厚度变薄（P＝0．00）;植入后第2、6周,软骨膜单位面积中血管数量分别为13．28±2．49、7．71±2．49个,第2、6周时重建鼓膜的组织学结构为鳞状上皮层、纤维－软骨膜层、软骨层、粘膜层,第12周时为鳞状上皮层、软骨层及粘膜层。结论耳廓软骨－软骨膜复合体重建鼓膜的愈合时间短于鼓膜自行愈合的时间;植入后复合体的厚度较植入前先增厚再变薄,软骨膜层血管数量表现为先增加后减少;重建鼓膜最终组织学分层与正常鼓膜组织学结构相似。     

82耳鼓膜完整的传导性聋耳内镜下听骨链重建疗效观察

目的 分析总结77例(82耳)鼓膜完整的传导性聋患者的临床表现、听力学特点及耳内镜听骨链重建术的疗效.方法 回顾性分析安徽医科大学第一附属医院2016年2月到2019年2月期间收治并行耳内镜听骨链重建术的77例(82耳)鼓膜完整的传导性聋患者的资料.总结分析其病史、临床表现、听力学评估、术中探查及耳内镜听力重建疗效.结...     

Relationship between the Shape of the Reconstructed Tympanic Cavity and the Postoperative Auditory Function

The dependence of the postoperative hearing function on the shape of the reconstructed tympanic cavity has been evaluated. After reconstructing a large tympanic cavity, the results were very good; after reconstructing a flat tympanic cavity they were good and after reconstructing a cavum minor they were bad. The main cause of bad long-term hearing ability after type IV tympanoplasty was tympanofibrosis. The global results were better following closed tympanoplasty than following open tympanoplasty.     

Early Structural Tympanic Membrane Reactions to Myringotomy: A Study in an Acute Otitis Media Model

Myringotomy (Myr) is one of the most frequently performed surgical procedures in children. However, events occurring in the early phases, i.e. a matter of hours, following Myr in the acute otitis media (AOM) model have not been described. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the early otomicroscopic and histopathologic reactions of the tympanic membrane (TM) after Myr during the course of AOM (AOM-Myr). The left tympanic bulla from 36 healthy Sprague-Dawley rats was inoculated with Streptococcus pneumoniae type 3. Forty-eight h later, at Day 0, 4 randomized animals were immediately sacrificed and the remaining animals were treated with bilateral Myr. Otomicroscopy and sacrifices were performed in series of 4 animals at 3, 6, 9, 12, 24 and 48 h, and 4 and 7 days. The AOM-Myr TMs were compared to non-infected Myr TMs (non-AOM-Myr). The TMs were then dissected free and routinely processed for light and electron microscopy. AOM developed in all inoculated ears at Day 0. In the pars tensa of the AOM-Myr TMs the reaction of the keratinocyte layer of the perforation border was already evident at 6 h. The lamina propria exhibited a strong inflammatory reaction, which became more organized from 12 h onwards. At Day 4 the perforations were closed in three-quarters of cases. At Day 7 all perforations were healed with a distorted scar. In the non-AOM Myr TMs a strong degranulation of mast cells and edema were found in the pars flaccida at 6 h. A keratin spur at the perforation border was not seen until 24 h. All perforations were patent on Day 7 and myringosclerotic deposits were abundant in these TMs. The infected TMs regenerated faster and closed their perforations at an earlier stage. These findings favor the hypothesis that there is a low risk of chronic perforations when myringotomizing AOM TMs.     

Deep Learning Techniques for Ear Diseases Based on Segmentation of the Normal Tympanic Membrane

ObjectivesOtitis media is a common infection worldwide. Owing to the limited number of ear specialists and rapid development of telemedicine, several trials have been conducted to develop novel diagnostic strategies to improve the diagnostic accuracy and screening of patients with otologic diseases based on abnormal otoscopic findings. Although these strategies have demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy for the tympanic membrane (TM), the insufficient explainability of these techniques limits their deployment in clinical practice.MethodsWe used a deep convolutional neural network (CNN) model based on the segmentation of a normal TM into five substructures (malleus, umbo, cone of light, pars flaccida, and annulus) to identify abnormalities in otoscopic ear images. The mask R-CNN algorithm learned the labeled images. Subsequently, we evaluated the diagnostic performance of combinations of the five substructures using a three-layer fully connected neural network to determine whether ear disease was present.ResultsWe obtained the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of the optimal conditions for the presence or absence of eardrum diseases according to each substructure separately or combinations of substructures. The highest area under the curve (0.911) was found for a combination of the malleus, cone of light, and umbo, compared with the corresponding areas under the curve of 0.737–0.873 for each substructure. Thus, an algorithm using these five important normal anatomical structures could prove to be explainable and effective in screening abnormal TMs.ConclusionThis automated algorithm can improve diagnostic accuracy by discriminating between normal and abnormal TMs and can facilitate appropriate and timely referral consultations to improve patients’ quality of life in the context of primary care.     

Repair of tympanic membrane perforation by topical application of 1% sodium hyaluronate

Objective: The administration of exogenous hyaluronic acid can increase the repair potential of damaged tissue. This study was conducted to verify whether or not the hyaluronic acid enhances the repair process in perforations of tympanic membrane. Hyaluronic acid is commercially available as its sodium salt. Study Design: Thirty patients with dry central perforations of small or medium size (up to 3 mm) were treated locally with 1% sodium hyaluronate. The applications were repeated weekly for a maximum of five applications. Results: It was found that treatment with sodium hyaluronate helps appreciably in the closure of tympanic membrane perforations and also that the scar formed in majority of them resembled the normal tympanic membrane. 86.67% (26/30) of the patients responded positively to the treatment. More importantly overall average percentage reduction in the size of perforations was 86.49%. Conclusions: It was concluded that topical application of 1% sodium hyaluronate can be an alternative to surgery in selected cases of tympanic membrane perforations.     

不同材料修补不同面积中央性鼓膜穿孔的有限元模型分析

目的利用有限元模型研究不同移植材料修补不同面积中央性鼓膜穿孔对术后听力的影响。方法建立人正常中耳有限元模型,在鼓膜表面施加90 dB SPL声压得到镫骨底板位移的频率-幅度曲线(基准曲线,为正常中耳有限元镫骨底板位移曲线),通过与相关实验数据对比,验证模型可靠性,再建立3.10、10.66、22.25、42.0 mm²中央性鼓膜穿孔有限元模型,分别用0.25、0.5、1 mm厚度耳屏软骨以及0.4、0.8 mm厚度颞肌筋膜修补上述不同面积中央性鼓膜穿孔,获得术后镫骨底板位移频率-幅度曲线,并与基准曲线对比,分析术后听力情况。结果鼓膜穿孔面积3.10 mm²时,不同厚度的耳屏软骨和颞肌筋膜获得的镫骨底板位移均能基本符合基准曲线;穿孔面积10.66 mm²时,不同厚度的耳屏软骨或颞肌筋膜修补获得的镫骨底板位移曲线也基本贴近基准曲线,但0.25、0.5 mm厚度耳屏软骨的位移曲线更符合基准曲线;穿孔面积22.25 mm²时,在低频区域,耳屏软骨比颞肌筋膜获得的镫骨位移曲线与基准曲线的差异更小,在高频区域,0.25、0.5 mm厚度耳屏软骨和0.4 mm厚度颞肌筋膜获得的镫骨位移曲线更贴近于基准曲线;穿孔面积42.0 mm²时,颞肌筋膜和1 mm厚耳屏软骨获得的镫骨底板位移曲线与基准曲线的差异较大,而0.25 mm或0.5 mm厚耳屏软骨差异较小,0.25 mm厚耳屏软骨效果最佳。结论使用耳屏软骨或颞肌筋膜作为移植材料修补较小中央性鼓膜穿孔后镫骨底板位移没有显著差异;随着穿孔面积增大,以较薄的耳屏软骨作为移植材料得到的镫骨底板位移曲线与基准曲线差异最小。     

脑蛋白水解物贴膜治疗外伤性鼓膜穿孔

治疗外伤性鼓膜穿孔,传统方法是禁止耳内进入任何物质待其自愈,若时间较长且穿孔仍未愈合则采取颞筋膜內植法手术修复。本文报道我院2008年1月～2009年1月外伤性鼓膜穿孔36例（37耳）,均采用脑蛋白水解物贴膜治疗效果。     

Topical Treatment with Growth Factors for Tympanic Membrane Perforations: Progress Towards Clinical Application

Basic scientific research has demonstrated that epidermal growth factor (EGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), platelet-derived growth factor-AA (PDGF-AA) and transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF- &#102 ) are induced by acute tympanic membrane (TM) perforation. The expression of these growth factors peaks during the inflammatory phase and then declines, suggesting their involvement in the healing process of the TM. Expression of EGF receptor, bFGF receptor, PDGF receptor and keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) receptor in the TM has also been reported. Identification of these receptors indicates that the target cells in the TM may be stimulated during the process of healing by the corresponding exogenous growth factor in vivo . Some reports from animal studies showed encouraging effects of EGF, bFGF and PDGF-AA in terms of accelerated or enhanced healing of acute and chronic TM perforations without significant adverse effects. Two reports of clinical trials of topical application of EGF or bFGF for TM perforations revealed mixed results. In this article special considerations for future directions of research into growth factors are discussed and related articles on healing of skin wounds and other lesions are reviewed. Further experimental and clinical studies on the mechanism of action of growth factors, timing of application, selection (either singly or in combination), delivery mode, dose and safety aspects, as well as more clinical trials, are warranted, and will pave the way for clinical application.     

重组表皮生长因子治疗外伤性鼓膜穿孔的临床观察

目的观察重组人表皮生长因子(reconstruct humar epidermic growth factor,rhEGF)明胶海绵贴补治疗外伤性鼓膜穿孔的疗效。方法rhEGF治疗外伤性鼓膜穿孔68例,按随机分组为治疗组37例,对照组31例。结果rhEGF治疗外伤性鼓膜穿孔,依穿孔部位及形态分为前下、下半、后半和后下4组,治疗组较对照组愈合时间(4周内),分别提前7．5,7．6,12．2,12.6天,未见明显不良反应。结论rhEGF贴补治疗可有效地促进外伤性鼓膜穿孔愈合,缩短愈合时间。     

大前庭水管综合征患者鼓膜吸收率特征初探

目的 探讨大前庭水管综合征(Large Vestibular Aqueduct Syndrome,LVAS)患者宽频声导抗(Wideband Acoustic Immittance,WAI)测试中的声导抗峰压值的鼓膜吸收率特征.方法 选取40例经CT确诊大前庭水管综合征患者,进行声导抗峰压值的鼓膜吸收率测试,并收集相同...     

Tympanic membrane perforation: size, site and hearing evaluation

Objective

To assess different clinical scales of TM perforation size; to evaluate the effect of the size and the site of a perforation on the hearing level and frequencies.

Methods

Prospective study. Observers had subjectively estimated the size in millimeter and in percentage of a particular perforation; objectively computerized measures of TM perforations area were analyzed. Agreement between different measures was studied. Cases with postoperative intact TM and an air-bone gap (ABG) of 10 dB or less were studied.

Results

Global mean preoperative ABG was 21.8 ± 17 dB. Preoperative ABG was different between small-large and small-total perforations (p = 0.001). Difference of the preoperative ABG was statistically significant between perforations filling up the four quadrants and perforation limited to one quadrant in the postero-inferior, antero-superior and antero-inferior site. No statistically difference between perforation sites was identified for each affected frequency. Difference is statistically significant (p = 0.001) between the 250 Hz and the other frequencies for the medium, large and total perforations. After myringoplasty bone conduction improvement was statistically significant for the frequencies 500 (p = 0.04), 1000 (p = 0.04) and 2000 Hz (p = 0.011). Agreement was large enough when TM perforation size was expressed in percentage and absent when expressed in millimeter.

Conclusion

TM perforation can be clinically estimated quite precisely as a percentage of the TM area. Conductive hearing loss is frequency dependent; with the greatest loss occurring at the lowest sound frequencies. Hearing loss does not depend on the perforation's location.     

耳内镜辅助显微镜下内置法鼓膜修补术

1资料与方法1.1临床资料。选择2004年4月～2008年7月31例（36耳）鼓膜穿孔患者,男12例（13耳）,女19例（23耳）,年龄19～52岁,平均28.6岁,病程2个月～10年。其中外伤性穿孔18耳,鼓室成形术后遗留穿孔3耳,鼓室硬化6耳,慢性非化脓性中耳炎9耳。穿孔均位于紧张部。术前常规行纯音听力测试、耳内镜检查及颞骨CT检查,明确病变范围。纯音听力测试500、1000、2000Hz气骨导差在15～40dBHL,平均21.2dBHL,鼓膜贴补试验气骨导差降低5～20dBHL,平均10.7dBHL。     

异种胶原生物膜兔耳鼓膜移植再生动态观察

家兔１０只（２０耳），切除全部鼓膜，以异种胶原生物膜作鼓膜移植术。术后１０、２０、４０、６０天观察鼓膜再生动态。结果１９耳移植成功。比较观察移植前后组织学和超微结构形态，证实该移植材料具良好的生物相容性，是一种富有实用价值的鼓膜移植材料。     

慢性鼓膜穿孔动物模型的构建

目的建立慢性鼓膜穿孔的动物模型。方法将10只豚鼠于麻醉后在显微镜下以虹膜切开刀将豚鼠鼓膜双侧紧张部前方部分切除，以耳显微刮匙刮除鼓膜穿孔边缘鼓室侧黏膜上皮，于穿孔四角放射性切开1mm后将创缘内翻。术后每日于麻醉后在显微镜下观察鼓膜愈合情况。8周后于光镜下观察穿孔鼓膜结构。结果10只豚鼠共加耳鼓膜中16耳鼓膜经2个月未能愈合(80％)。所有穿孔均占紧张部面积约40％左右。3耳鼓膜感染。1耳鼓膜经10次手术后仍自行愈合。结论通过鼓膜部分切除加边缘内翻的方法可以成功地建立慢性鼓膜穿孔的动物模型。     

Tympanic Displacement Analysis in Healthy Volunteers after Indomethacin Administration

The aim of this study was to investigate whether a tympanic displacement analyser could detect decreases in cerebral blood flow and intracranial pressure after administration of indomethacin in healthy volunteers. In a double-blind crossover study involving 14 healthy volunteers all subjects first underwent a test-retest evaluation to investigate reproducibility followed by tests performed in sitting and supine positions to confirm intracranial-cochlear pressure transfer. In two further sessions tests were performed before and 90 min after subjects were blindly administered a suppository containing either 100 mg of indomethacin or placebo. It was found that tympanic membrane analysis performed 90 min after administration of such a suppository did not mirror the induced reduction in cerebral blood flow after administration of active drug. After administration of indomethacin eight of the subjects experienced discomfort and dizziness; after placebo none experienced subjective symptoms. After administration of indomethacin a statistically significant decrease in heart rate was demonstrated. The exponential form of the intracranial pressure-volume curve may explain why a decrease in intracranial pressure was not detected using the tympanic membrane displacement method, because the measurements were made in subjects with normal intracranial pressure. More significant findings may be found in patients with elevated intracranial pressure.