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Mastoid cavity obliteration and vibrant soundbridge implantation for patients with mixed hearing loss
Author(s) -
Ihler Friedrich,
Köhler Sabrina,
Meyer Alexander C.,
Blum Jenny,
Strenzke Nicola,
Matthias Christoph,
Canis Martin
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1002/lary.24180
Subject(s) - medicine , hearing loss , surgery , audiometry , sensorineural hearing loss , absolute threshold of hearing , bone conduction , complication , audiology
Objectives/Hypothesis To review the results of obliteration of a preexisting mastoid cavity with abdominal fat and Vibrant Soundbridge implantation in patients with mixed hearing loss (MHL) and to compare the data with results of Vibrant Soundbridge implantation in patients with MHL without mastoid cavity and with pure sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). Study Design Retrospective chart analysis of 10 patients (10 ears) with MHL and preexisting mastoid cavity, 18 patients (19 ears) with MHL alone and nine patients (10 ears) with SNHL treated in one tertiary referral center. Methods Vibrant Soundbridge implantation and obliteration in case a mastoid cavity existed previously. Pure tone audiometry (average air‐bone gap, average functional gain), speech audiometry (Freiburg Monosyllabic Test) and complication rate were main outcome measures. Results Postoperative average air‐bone gap was −15.1 ± 21.2 dB in patients with MHL with mastoid cavity obliteration, −7.2 ± 11.4 dB in patients with MHL without mastoid cavity, and −5.7 ± 11.2 dB in patients with SNHL. Average functional gain was 40.0 ± 23.5 dB, 39.7 ± 12.1 dB, and 9.5 ± 10.6 dB. Postoperative speech discrimination rate was 77.9 ± 20.8%, 83.3 ± 13.6%, and 83.6 ± 6.3%. No severe intraoperative or postoperative complications were noted. Conclusions Mastoid cavity obliteration during Vibrant Soundbridge implantation in patients with MHL and preexisting mastoid cavity is a safe procedure. The audiometric results are satisfying and comparable to those of other patient groups implanted with the same device. Level of Evidence 4. Laryngoscope , 124:531–537, 2014