We found a match
Your institution may have rights to this item. Sign in to continue.
- Title
Occurence of a round window membrane rupture in patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss.
- Authors
Haubner, Frank; Rohrmeier, Christian; Koch, Christoph; Vielsmeier, Veronika; Strutz, J�rgen; Kleinjung, Tobias
- Abstract
Background: Aim of the present study was to evaluate the occurence of a round window membrane rupture and the effects of hearing restoration after exploratory tympanotomy and sealing of the round window (niche) in patients with unilateral sudden deafness. Methods: Retrospective analysis of patients' charts in a tertiary referral center. Charts of 69 patients with sudden deafness followed by exploratory tympanotomy were retrospectively analyzed. Pure-tone audiometry data before and after tympanotomy were compared to determine the outcome of hearing recovery. The postoperative hearing test values were documented 3 weeks after tympanotomy. All surgical reports were reviewed with regard to the surgical technique performed and the intraoperative findings. Results: 18.8% of the patients revealed a visible perilymphatic fistula in the round window niche. 89.8% of the patients reported no typical history for a round window membrane rupture. All patients were treated with an exploratory tympanotomy under local anesthesia and an intravenous corticosteroid treatment regimen. The majority of the surgeons used a fat plomb to cover the round window. Postoperative hearing was significantly improved compared to the preoperative hearing test data. No patient showed a worsened hearing curve after the treatment. Conclusion: Most patients suffering from unilateral sudden deafness had no visible perilymphatic fistula. In our study population, the majority of patients reported no typical history of a pressure elevation in the inner ear. Exploratory tympanotomy is a safe procedure that may support hearing recovery in patients with sudden deafness in addition to the established treatment regimen including high-dose steroids.
- Subjects
SENSORINEURAL hearing loss; AUDIOMETRY; ADRENOCORTICAL hormones; HORMONE therapy; FISTULA
- Publication
BMC Ear, Nose & Throat Disorders, 2012, Vol 12, Issue 1, p14
- ISSN
1472-6815
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1186/1472-6815-12-14