Objective: The objective of this study is to build upon previous work validating a tablet-based software to measure cochlear duct length (CDL). Here, we do so by greatly expanding the number of cochleae (n = 166) analyzed, and examined whether computed tomography (CT) slice thickness influences reliability of CDL measurements. Study Design: Retrospective chart review study. Setting: Tertiary referral center. Patients: Eighty-three adult cochlear implant recipients were included in the study. Both cochleae were measured for each patient (n = 166). Interventions: Three raters analyzed the scans of 166 cochleae at 2 different time points. Each rater individually identified anatomical landmarks that delineated the basal turn diameter and width. These coordinates were applied to the elliptic approximation method (ECA) to estimate CDL. The effect of CT scan slice thickness on the measurements was explored. Main Outcome Measures: The primary outcome measure is the strength of the inter- and intra-rater reliability. Results: The mean CDL measured was 32.84 ± 2.03 mm, with a range of 29.03 to 38.07 mm. We observed no significant relationship between slice thickness and CDL measurement (F1,164 = 3.04; p = 0.08). The mean absolute difference in CDL estimations between raters was 1.76 ± 1.24 mm and within raters was 0.263 ± 0.200 mm. The intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) between raters was 0.54 and ranged from 0.63 to 0.83 within raters. Conclusions: This software produces reliable measurements of CDL between and within raters, regardless of CT scan thickness.

Objective: Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) is characterized by a chronically draining middle ear. CSOM is typically treated with multiple courses of antibiotics or antiseptics which are successful in achieving quiescence; however, the disease is prone to relapse. Understanding why these treatment failures occur is essential. Study Design: The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimal biofilm eradication concentration, and the inhibitory zone were determined for ototopicals and ofloxacin for the laboratory strains and CSOM-derived isolates. The percentage of persister cells and bacterial biofilm formation were measured. Disease eradication was tested in a validated invivo model of CSOM after treatment with ofloxacin. Setting: Microbiology Laboratory. Methods: Basic science experiments were performed to measure the effectiveness of a number of compounds against CSOM bacteria in a number of distinct settings. Results: The minimal biofilm eradication concentration is higher than is physiologically achievable with commercial preparations, except for povo-iodine. Clincial isolates of CSOM have equivalent biofilm-forming ability but increased proportions of persister cells. Ofloxacin can convert to inactive disease temporarily but fails to eradicate disease in an in-vivo model. Conclusions: Higher percentages of persister cells in clinical CSOM isolates are associated with resistance to ototopicals. Current ototopicals, except povo-iodine, have limited clinical effectiveness; however, it is unknown what the maximum achievable concentration is and there are ototoxicity concerns. Fluoroquinolones, while successful in producing inactive disease in the short term, have the potential to encourage antimicrobial resistance and disease recalcitrance and do not achieve a permanent remission. Given these limitations, clinicians should consider surgery earlier or use of clinically safe concentrations of povo-iodine earlier into the treatment algorithm.

Objectives:To investigate tumor control rate and hearing outcomes following stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for vestibular schwannoma (VS) cases with perfect (100%) word recognition score (WRS).Study Design:A retrospective cohort study.Setting:Tertiary referral center.Patients:Inclusion criteria were receiving primary SRS, a pretreatment WRS of 100%, and availability of both pre- and posttreatment audiometric data for evaluation.Intervention:SRS delivered by Cyberknife.Main Outcome Measures:Tumor growth rates and audiological outcomes after SRS.Results:The cohort consisted of 139 patients, with more than 1-year follow-up (mean 6.1 yrs). SRS tumor control rate was 87% for the whole cohort. Growth before SRS was documented in 24% (n = 34 of 139). The proportion of sporadic VS cases who maintained hearing (decline <10 dB of pure-tone audiometry or <20% of WRS) at 3 years was 50%, at 5 years was 45%, and at 10 years was 42%. In multivariate analysis, increased age was found to be predictive of increased hearing loss (p = 0.03), while the following factors were shown not to be significant: sex (p = 0.5), tumor size (p = 0.2), pre-SRS tumor growth (p = 0.5), and target volume (p = 0.42).Conclusions:Among patients with VS who had perfect WRS and underwent SRS, the overall tumor control rate was 87% comparable to observation. Hearing maintenance and preservation of “serviceable” hearing rates after 5 years in VS patients with perfect WRS treated by SRS is less than that when comparing to similar observation cohorts. Given this finding we do not advocate using SRS to preserve hearing, over observation, in tumors with perfect WRS.

Aim: To access the usage of the endoscopy in round window (RW) orientation during cochlear implant (CI). Methodology: This was a retrospective case series study done in Otolaryngology Department, Tanta University, Egypt in 2018 and 2019. Inclusion criterion was all cases with CI surgery in which the endoscopy was used to locate the round window (RW) when this was difficult through the transmastoid approach. Results: The total cohort consisted of 13 CI patients in which endoscopy was used. Age mean was 35.5 years. Situations necessitating the usage of endoscope were: 6/13 with cochlear rotation, 4/13 with very narrow mastoid cavity, and 3/13 with narrow facial recess. By using the endoscope, the RW was fully visualized in all patients and CI insertion done through it. Conclusion: The endoscopy was of great value in some difficult CI cases.

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Objectives:To review the outcomes of repairing tegmen dehiscence using the middle cranial fossa approach with a self-setting bone cement.Study Design:Retrospective case series.Setting:Two academic tertiary hospitals.Patients:All patients presenting for surgical repair of tegmen dehiscence and with postoperative follow-up for at least 6 months between October 2015 and July 2019.Intervention:Surgical repair using a middle cranial fossa approach using a layered reconstruction with temporalis fascia and self-setting calcium phosphate bone cement.Main Outcome Measures:Perioperative complications, recurrence of presenting symptoms/disease, hearing, and facial nerve grade.Results:The cohort consisted of 22 patients with 23 tegmen dehiscence repairs (1 sequential bilateral repair). There were 16 males and 6 females with an average age at operation of 52.6 years. Repairs were left sided in 9, right sided in 12 patients, and bilateral in 1 patient. No patients had recurrence of presenting symptoms or disease at most recent follow-up. Preoperative hearing was maintained in all patients. Two patients (9% of repairs) experienced delayed partial temporary facial nerve weakness House-Brackman grade 2 and 4 which had recovered by 8 weeks postoperative.Conclusion:We demonstrate a technique for repairing tegmen dehiscence of the middle cranial fossa floor that has excellent postoperative outcomes. We highlight potential technical challenges in this approach as well as the need for counseling for potential partial transient facial nerve dysfunction.

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