Electric Acoustic Versus Electric-Only Stimulation in Full-Length Lateral Wall Cochlear Array Recipients With Preserved Hearing.

Objective: To determine if cochlear implant recipients who have low-frequency hearing preservation after surgery can benefit from electric-acoustic stimulation (EAS) even after a period of electric-only stimulation.

Study Design: Prospective, crossover controlled, clinical study.

Setting: Private practice single-specialty clinic.

Comparison of Outcomes with the Use of Different Heat-Activated Crimping Prostheses in Stapedotomy.

Objective: To determine differences in failure rate and hearing outcomes of a completely encircling heat-activated crimping prosthesis (SMart 360°) compared to partially encircling prosthesis (SMart).

Study Design: Retrospective chart review.

Setting: Private neurotology tertiary referral center.

Outcomes of Mastoidectomy With Antibiotic Catheter Irrigation for Patients With Draining Ventilation Tubes.

Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of mastoidectomy with antibiotic catheter irrigation in patients with chronic tympanostomy tube otorrhea.

Methods: A chart review of adult and pediatric patients with persistent tympanostomy tube otorrhea who had failed outpatient medical management and underwent mastoidectomy with placement of a temporary indwelling catheter for antibiotic instillation was performed. Patients were retrospectively followed for recurrent drainage after 2 months and outcomes were categorized as resolution (0-1 episodes of otorrhea or otitis media with effusion during follow-up), improvement (2-3 episodes), or continued episodic (>3 episodes).

A Deep Learning Model for Automated Classification of Intraoperative Continuous EMG.

Objective: Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) is the use of electrophysiological methods during certain high-risk surgeries to assess the functional integrity of nerves in real time and alert the surgeon to prevent damage. However, the efficiency of IONM in current practice is limited by latency of verbal communications, inter-rater variability, and the subjective manner in which electrophysiological signals are described.

Methods: In an attempt to address these shortcomings, we investigate automated classification of free-running electromyogram (EMG) waveforms during IONM.

The Role of Mastoidectomy in Draining Ventilation Tubes.

Objectives: To discuss the indication for performing a mastoidectomy with catheter placement in patients with chronic tympanostomy tube otorrhea.

Methods: The Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online was searched via PubMed for relevant articles using serous mastoiditis, mastoidectomy, chronic otorrhea, tube otorrhea, tympanostomy tubes, and biofilm as keywords.

Results: Further understanding of the pathophysiology of otorrhea and the development of ototopical fluoroquinolones have made a draining tympanostomy tube more manageable.

Long-term outcomes of cartilage-buttressed T-tube tympanoplasty for prolonged middle ear ventilation.

Objectives/hypothesis: To report on the safety and efficacy of cartilage-buttressed T-tube tympanoplasty for long-term middle ear ventilation, specifically by examining duration of tube survival, as well as adverse events associated with prolonged middle ear intubation, including persistent tympanic membrane perforation.

Study Design: Retrospective case series of patients undergoing cartilage-buttressed T-tube tympanoplasty between January 2005 and December 2016 in a tertiary-care neurotology private practice.

Methods: Patients who underwent cartilage T-tube tympanoplasty with complete pre- and postoperative audiometric data and a minimum follow-up duration of 12 months were analyzed.

Hydroxyapatite cement cranioplasty following translabyrinthine approach: Long-term study of 369 cases.

Objective: To report the authors' experience with hydroxyapatite cement (HAC) cranioplasty and analyze the material's long-term safety and efficacy in repairing translabyrinthine skull-base defects by examining adverse events, specifically cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks and surgical site infections.

Study Design: Retrospective case-control study (primary study arm); prospective cross-sectional study of patients not examined within the last 5 years (secondary arm).

Setting: tertiary-care neurotology private practice and academic practice (two centers).

Role of squamosal suture as a consistent landmark for middle fossa approach craniotomy: an anatomical study.

Objective To establish a consistent surface bony landmark for a middle fossa approach (MFA) lateral craniotomy represented by the squamosal suture (SS). Methods In 60 dried skulls, we assessed the relation between the SS and the external auditory canal (EAC). The lateral portion of the middle cranial fossa floor was also assessed for a possible relation with the anteroposterior diameter (APD) of the squama temporalis (ST).

Round window stimulation for conductive and mixed hearing loss.

Objective: Assess surgical complications, postoperative residual hearing, and speech perception outcomes of placement of a middle ear implant on the round window in conductive and mixed hearing loss cases.

Study Design: Single-subject, repeated-measures design where each subject served as his or her own control.

Setting: Tertiary referral medical systems.

MRI information for commonly used otologic implants: review and update.

Objective: To review information on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) issues for commonly used otologic implants.

Data Sources: Manufacturing companies, National Library of Medicine's online database, and an additional online database (www.MRIsafety.

Association of benign intracranial hypertension and spontaneous encephalocele with cerebrospinal fluid leak.

Objective: To determine the incidence of intracranial hypertension in patients with spontaneous encephalocele with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak.

Study Design: Retrospective case review.

Setting: Tertiary care neurotology practice.

Patterns of failure in heat-activated crimping prosthesis in stapedotomy.

Objective: To understand potential causes of failure in heat-activated crimping prosthesis in stapedotomy.

Study Design: Retrospective chart review of all primary and subsequent revision stapedotomy operations performed by the senior authors with heat-activated-crimping prosthesis between June 2003 and September 2009. Patients who had history of previous stapedotomy performed elsewhere were excluded.

Acoustic tumor observation and failure to follow-up.

Objective: To review the clinical course of patients undergoing observation for their acoustic tumor with evaluation of the incidence and contributing variables to failure to follow-up.

Study Design: Case series with chart review and telephone interview.

Setting: Single subspecialty practice.

Facial nerve function and hearing preservation acoustic tumor surgery: does the approach matter?

Objective: The retrosigmoid and middle fossa approaches to acoustic tumor excision allow for hearing preservation but differ in the angle of approach to the facial nerve. The authors comparatively examined facial nerve results of each approach.

Study Design: Case series with chart review.

An alternative treatment for facial nerve tumors: short-term results of radiotherapy.

A review of medical records of patients undergoing radiotherapy for facial nerve tumors was undertaken to determine subsequent facial nerve results, hearing results, and tumor control. Two patients with facial nerve tumors received this treatment. Facial nerve function remains excellent in one patient and significantly improved in the other.

Enhanced hearing in heat-activated-crimping prosthesis stapedectomy.

Objectives: Compare short-term hearing outcomes with a heat-activated-crimping versus manual-crimping stapedectomy prosthesis.

Study Design: Retrospective chart review.

Setting: Tertiary care neurotology referral center.

Acoustic neuroma in a private neurotology practice: trends in demographics and practice patterns.

Objectives/hypothesis: To determine whether changes in demographics and management of patients with acoustic neuromas occurred between the years 1990 and 2005.

Study Design: Retrospective chart review.

Methods: Charts of all 614 patients with a diagnosis of acoustic neuroma, excluding neurofibromatosis-2, from 1990 through 2005 were reviewed.

Hydroxyapatite cement cranioplasty in translabyrinthine acoustic neuroma surgery-update.

Objective: To update the outcome of hydroxyapatite cement cranioplasty in translabyrinthine acoustic neuroma (TLAN) surgery.

Patients: One hundred eight previously reported patients undergoing abdominal fat graft reconstruction versus hydroxyapatite cement cranioplasty with additional 4-year follow up. Ninety additional patients undergoing a uniform technique of hydroxyapatite cement cranioplasty after TLAN.

Endolymphatic mastoid shunt versus endolymphatic sac decompression for Ménière's disease.

Objective: This study compares the efficacy of endolymphatic mastoid shunt (EMS) versus endolymphatic sac decompression (ESD) without sac incision for the treatment of Ménière's disease.

Study Design And Setting: The AAO-HNS Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Evaluation of Therapy in Ménière's disease were used to retrospectively identify suitable candidates for the study. All patients who failed medical management and underwent either endolymphatic-mastoid shunt (EMS) (n = 88) or endolymphatic sac decompression (ESD) (n = 108) were selected for review using the AAO-HNS guidelines.

Visually enhanced vestibulo-ocular reflex: a diagnostic tool for migraine vestibulopathy.

Objectives: 1) To compare the incidence of elevated visually enhanced vestibular-ocular reflex (VVOR) rotational gain during rotational chair testing in a normal control group versus a group of patients diagnosed with migraine vestibulopathy; 2) to discuss the possible application of VVOR gain during rotational chair testing for diagnosing migraine vestibulopathy.

Study Design: Prospective normal control group and retrospective cohort comparison.

Methods: 1) Prospective rotational chair studies including VVOR in 20 normal control patients; 2) retrospective review of vestibular studies including VVOR in 100 consecutive patients with migraine vestibulopathy.

Rotational chair (ROTO) instead of electronystagmography (ENG) as the primary vestibular test.

Objectives: To compare the sensitivity of rotational chair (ROTO) versus electronystagmography (ENG) in peripheral vestibular pathology.

Methods: Retrospective chart review.

Results: One thousand consecutive patients undergoing evaluation for dizziness and imbalance at a tertiary care referral balance center were reviewed.

Phase 1 clinical trial results of the Envoy System: a totally implantable middle ear device for sensorineural hearing loss.

Objectives: This report will present the results of the USA Phase 1 clinical trials for the Envoy System (St. Croix Medical): A totally implantable middle ear hearing system for sensorineural loss.

Study Design: A prospective, single-subject, repeated-measures, multicenter study was performed to evaluate safety and functionality of the Envoy System.

Vestibular nerve section versus intratympanic gentamicin for Meniere's disease.

Objectives/hypothesis: Vestibular nerve section and transtympanic gentamicin administration are procedures with proven efficacy in the treatment of vertigo associated with Meniere's disease refractory to medical management. Hearing loss is a known complication of each of these procedures; however, there has not been a report of hearing results of both treatments from a single institution.

Study Design: Retrospective review.

Translabyrinthine approach for acoustic neuroma.

The translabyrinthine approach has been popularized during the past 30 years for the surgical treatment of acoustic neuromas. It serves as an alternative to the retrosigmoid approach in patients when hearing preservation is not a primary consideration. Patients with a tumor of any size may be treated by the translabyrinthine approach.