Fenestration and occlusion of posterior semicircular canal for patients with intractable benign paroxysmal positional vertigo

Abstract

A series of 15 patients with intractable benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) who had fenestration and occlusion of the posterior semicircular canal (FOP) surgery commencing in December 1990 are reported. Follow-up was from 14 to 40 months. All patients reported a cure of their positional vertigo. No patient regretted having the surgery. All patients had a negative Dix-Hallpike test post-operatively and the test remained negative for the duration of follow-up. Eight patients had a mild high frequency sensorineural hearing (SNHL) loss post-operatively which had almost recovered six months later. No patient reported any change in their hearing following surgery. Of the 10 patients who did not have pre-operative tinnitus, developed tinnitus but it was not considered significant by them. All patients developed mild unsteadiness following surgery which gradually improved with mobilization and physiotherapy if necessary.The operation preserves hearing, is technically straightforward, well-tolerated and effective.

Important Factors for the Hearing Loss Caused by the Triple Semicircular Canal Occlusion in Guinea Pigs

“…Three of five patients with normal hearing temporarily experienced a mixed hearing loss. The safety and effectiveness of this treatment in humans have been supported by other researchers (8,13,14,16,17,22).…”

Hearing Outcomes after Transmastoid Plugging of Superior Canal Dehiscence

“…In 3 of 5 cases, a temporary decrease in hearing was observed, which normalized after a period of time. Hawthorne and El-Naggar [Hawthorne and el-Naggar, 1994] plugged the posterior canal in 15 patients with BPLV and observed hearing loss in one case. Plugging was found to be a promising alternative to a labyrinthectomy, which led to complete hearing loss.…”

Hearing and vestibular functions after plugging surgery for the posterior semicircular canal

“…The causes of conductive hearing loss were different. The incus was accidentally dislocated during surgery in one patient [7]. One patient had a past history of temporal bone fracture with ossicular discontinuity [10].…”