Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

W H Lippy

Publications and source records attributed to W H Lippy.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Simultaneous presentation of facial nerve neuroma and otosclerosis.

Otosclerosis often occurs as a unilateral mixed or conductive hearing loss. In the absence of retrocochlear findings, otologists usually do not pursue further diagnostic testing. A patient who presented to the Warren Otologic Group with a unilateral mixed hearing loss is discussed. He was followed for 1 year with the intent of scheduling a stapedectomy. Two weeks prior to the surgical date, the patient developed a sudden hearing loss and was admitted to the hospital for treatment. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a tiny, enhancing mass in the lateral internal auditory canal, measuring 7 mm in diameter. At surgery, the tumor was found to originate at the union of the nervus intermedius and the facial nerve. The simultaneous occurrence of facial nerve neuroma and otosclerosis is discussed, with emphasis on a thorough evaluation of all unilateral mixed hearing losses, including those attributable to otosclerosis.

Adult↗

Staging for cholesteatoma in the child, adolescent, and adult.

A closed tympanomastoidectomy with subsequent staged surgical procedures leading to the excision of cholesteatoma was validated as described. All elements of staging with a 10-year experience of 354 patients are covered according to categories of child (0 to 9 years), adolescent (10 to 15 years), and adult. The child differed from the adolescent and adult in the following manner: more recurring cholesteatomas, greater ossicular necrosis, poorer hearing results, less aggressive residual cholesteatoma, and significantly poorer results with pars flaccida cholesteatoma than pars tensa cholesteatoma. After the end stage, 90% of the cases remained closed, with acceptable hearing in 60% of the patients.

Adolescent↗

A postoperative audiometric evaluation of cochlear implant patients.

As the benefits of the cochlear implantation become more defined, many investigators hope that these devices can be offered to patients with a lesser degree of hearing loss. Accordingly, it is necessary to investigate the audiometric thresholds in the implanted ear after surgery. Preservation of the residual hearing after implantation would support the claims that surgery and the presence of a cochlear implant do not adversely affect the implanted ear.

Audiometry↗

Reconstructing the absent lenticular process.

When a surgeon encounters an absent lenticular process of the incus, he must either reposition the incus or attempt to bridge the small gap between the remaining incus long process and the stapes capitulum. Our solution to this problem is to place a Lippy modified Robinson stapes prosthesis on the stapes footplate and attach it to the remaining long process, thus bypassing the stapes superstructure. This modified Robinson prosthesis has a portion of the well removed allowing the eroded long process to enter from the side. The hearing results of 63 cases at 6 months (two-thirds of which had a concurrent tympanoplasty) are 67% within 10 dB and 91% within 20 dB of the preoperative bone hearing level. The use of an existing and proven prosthesis provides both stability and, to date, the most successful hearing results for reconstructing the absent lenticular process.

Ear Ossicles↗

The ossicle-cup prosthesis: five years later.

The ossicle-cup prosthesis is a semibiologic prosthesis that incorporates a synthetic portion into the remaining (or transplant) ossicle. This assembly is positioned on the stapes capitulum, with the synthetic cup forming a dynamic joint. During 1978, 114 patients underwent surgical procedures in which an ossicle cup prosthesis was used. After 1 year 84% of these patients were within 20 dB of their preoperative bone hearing levels. Patients with a concurrent mastoidectomy did worse than those who underwent only a tympanoossiculoplasty. Five years later, 74% of the successful cases were still within 20 dB of the preoperative hearing levels. Eighteen patients underwent a revision surgical procedure to regain hearing. The postoperative hearing results at 1 year were 50% within 20 dB. The causes of failure included further ossicle necrosis (28%), a laterally healed tympanic membrane (39%), and fixation of the prosthesis (33%). Extrusion of the prosthesis during the 5-year period was between 1% and 2%. Overall, the ossicle cup prosthesis has proved to be a stable assembly, easy to revise, and longlasting. Once successful, three of four cases will retain successful hearing for more than 5 years.

Adolescent↗

Validating the excision of cholesteatoma.

In lieu of a radical mastoidectomy, 138 patients underwent a closed tympanomastoidectomy with subsequent staged surgical procedures until the excision of cholesteatoma could be validated. All the patients underwent two surgical procedures, 29% underwent three procedures, and 4% underwent four procedures. The surgical findings at the second procedure were: negative, 41.5%; retraction pockets, 7%; squamous pearls, 14%; recurrent cholesteatoma, 12%; and residual cholesteatoma, 25.5%. At each stage the likelihood of finding any form of cholesteatoma lessens. A conversion from a closed to an open mastoidectomy was necessary for 9% of the patients, and 4% were lost to follow-up. The opportunity to adjust the reconstructed ossicular assembly exists at each stage. With the use of semibiologic prostheses (ossicle cup and columella), the hearing results were: first stage, 67% within 20 dB, 84% within 30 dB; second stage, 77% and 90%; third stage, 77% and 96%.

Cholesteatoma↗

Stapedectomy revision following sensorineural hearing loss.

This study analyzes 71 stapedectomies that resulted in a sensorineural hearing loss, followed by a revision stapedectomy on the suspicion of an oval window fistula. The cases were divided between two primary stapedectomy techniques: a stainless steel Robinson prosthesis on a vein graft and a wire prosthesis with Gelfoam. The major differences between the surgical findings of the two groups were the fistula rate with the wire prosthesis was 10 times that with the Robinson prosthesis; the wire prosthesis was longer than necessary in 21% of the cases in which it was used; there was no finding of excess length with the Robinson prosthesis; and after revision stapedectomy, dizziness was lessened in 20% of the patients in the Robinson prosthesis group, in 60% of those in the wire prosthesis group, and in 75% of those with fistula. Surgical directions are given for revision stapedectomy following a sensorineural hearing loss.

Cochlear Implants↗

Solving ossicular problems in stapedectomy.

Three unusual ossicular problems encountered in stapedectomy are: floating stapes footplate, partial absence of the incus long process, and otosclerosis combined with a fixed malleus. The surgical techniques advocated in solving these problems are: placing a Robinson prosthesis on the floating footplate, utilizing the Lippy modification of the Robinson prosthesis for the problem incus, and performing only a stapedectomy for malleus fixation and otosclerosis. The hearing results in 242 cases were quite satisfactory and no patient had a further sensorineural loss.

Ear Ossicles↗

Solving ossicular problems in tympanoplasty.

Four troublesome problems encountered in ossicular reconstruction are: low profile stapes, lateral tympanic membrane, remaining stapes crura, and absent stapes capitulum. The design advantages and modifications of the semibiological ossicle cup and ossicle columella prostheses are given to solve these problems. The hearing results are completely satisfactory.

Ear Ossicles↗

Stapedectomy for otosclerosis with malleus fixation.

Malleus fixation, in addition to stapes fixation, presents a perplexing surgical problem. Should the incus replacement prosthesis procedure be performed or only a stapedectomy? The hearing results of a stapedectomy alone in 45 cases with both stapes and malleus fixation are 70% within 10 dB and 84% within 20 dB of the preoperative bone conduction hearing level.

Bone Conduction↗

An incus replacement prosthesis. The ossicle cup.

To achieve better hearing after incus replacement surgery, the ossicle-cup prosthesis is introduced. This prosthesis incorporates part of a Teflon Robinson's stapes prosthesis into the body of an incus. The ossicle-cup prosthesis has a dynamic joint with the stapes capitulum, as well as a variable height above the stapes. Preliminary hearing results of 45 cases show air-bone gap closure of 67% within 10 dB and 98% within 20 dB.

Ear Ossicles↗

Incus window in transposition.

In aiding the positioning of the incus in incus transposition, a hole, the incus window, is drilled completely through the body of the incus. Through the window the surgeon has a visual as well as a tactile reference to the head of the stapes. At one year results show that 182 of 201 patients closed the air-bone gap to within 20 dB of the preoperative bone level.

Bone Transplantation↗

Semibiologic middle ear prostheses: ossicle cup and ossicle columella.

As a natural step in ossicular reconstruction technique, two semibiologic prostheses are introduced. The prosthesis designed for incus replacement is called the "ossicle cup." A hole is drilled in the body of an incus or head of the malleus, and the synthetic shaft of the ossicle cup is placed into the hole. The synthetic cup fits over the stapes capitulum, forming a joint. The ossicle keeps the synthetic portion from touching the tympanic membrane. The prosthesis designed for total ossicular replacement is called the "ossicle columella." In like manner, the shaft is inserted into a shaped ossicle and placed on the remaining footplate. The ossicle columella has a synthetic footplate that rests on the remaining footplate and provides stability and safety. The adaptability of the semibiologic prostheses solves the problems of a laterally healed tympanic membrane, absent stapes capitulum, remaining footplate crura, low-lying stapes, and retracted malleus. The hearing results of the ossicle cup prosthesis indicate 87% of cases with successful hearing at one year. The ossicle columella results in 71% of cases with successful hearing at one year. To date, the extrusion rate is less than 1%.

Bioprosthesis↗