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Postnatal development of the facial canal. An investigation based on cadaver dissections and computed tomography.

The anatomy of the facial nerve canal in the adult and the prenatal development of this canal are well described in the literature. It is divided into three segments (the labyrinthine segment, the tympanic segment and the mastoid segment). However, little is known of the facial canal anatomy in the newborn and almost nothing in the child. Postnatal changes in the development of the facial canal are directly connected with the postnatal development of the temporal bone. Particularly the development of the mastoid process and the bony external ear canal contribute to the development of the third (mastoidal) portion of the facial canal. Therefore, most of the postnatal changes in the facial canal are observed in this segment. However, the second (tympanic) portion also shows some postnatal changes in its direction caused by the changes of the squamous bone. The most significant changes take place during the first four years after birth. Provided with the anatomical description of the entire facial canal in the child, it is also easy to identify the canal on computed tomography scans. In summary, the first and the second part of the facial canal in the child are almost similar to the adult in length and in width; the only change from the newborn to the adult is in the direction of the second part which is more horizontal in the adult than during early childhood. The most significant changes are the changes in the length of the mastoidal part, the change in the position of the stylomastoid foramen and the change of the divergence of the chorda tympani.

Adolescent↗

Anodal vestibular stimulation does not suppress vestibular reflexes in human subjects.

Anodal current applied to the vestibular apparatus has previously been found to inhibit discharge from irregular vestibular afferents in squirrel monkeys. We wished to investigate whether anodal currents applied over the mastoid processes of human subjects would significantly reduce ongoing vestibular activity and thereby the size of galvanic-evoked vestibulospinal reflexes, measured by soleus electromyogram. Nine subjects were tested, of whom six subjects (five females, one male) provided data for the final analysis. Tonic anodal current was applied over one mastoid at 0 (baseline), 2, 4, 6 and 8 mA. The cathode was placed at C7. Superimposed on each intensity of tonic current were separate, short anodal currents of 4 mA, duration 20 ms, presented as 128 stimuli to the same side, and used to test vestibular responsiveness. These trials were then repeated with the anode overlying the contralateral mastoid. Short latency (SL) and medium latency (ML) reflexes were measured from the right soleus muscle. All six subjects used in the final analysis had readily identifiable reflexes to all stimuli. One-way ANOVA revealed no significant difference in the magnitude of the SL ( P=0.99) or ML ( P=0.96) components of the vestibulospinal reflexes across the group. Despite surface anodal currents of up to 8 mA, there was no consistent effect on the size of galvanic-evoked vestibulospinal reflexes. As 8 mA is close to the maximum intensity tolerated by volunteer subjects, our results indicate that anodal current applied over the mastoids is unlikely to be a useful means of suppressing vestibular function in human subjects.

Adult↗

Indications for the use of ventilating tubes for secretory otitis media.

Seventy-seven children (147 ears) with secretory otitis media (S.O.M.) were surgically treated by myringotomy with aspiration, insertion of ventilating tubes, and adenoidectomy, if indicated. The results of treatment for S.O.M. were analyzed according to the degree of mastoid pneumatization and complications with or without ipsilateral sinusitis. The present study was performed in order to establish indications for the use of ventilating tubes. The results of treatment for S.O.M. in poorly developed mastoids were poor. With an ipsilateral sinusitis the prognosis of S.O.M. was also poor. In some cases of S.O.M., particularly those in well-developed mastoids, either adenoidectomy alone or myringotomy with aspiration alone proved effective for recovery from middle ear effusions. Ventilating tubes are most suitable for the following conditions: (1) in cases of sclerotic or poorly developed mastoids; (2) in cases with ipsilateral sinusitis; and (3) in cases with recurrent effusions after a first myringotomy with aspiration.

Adolescent↗

Surgical classification of variations in the anatomy of the sigmoid sinus.

OBJECTIVE: Analyze the variability of anatomic relations between the sigmoid sinus and other surgical landmarks within the mastoid cavity to establish a classification of sinus location to facilitate surgical planning. STUDY DESIGN: A descriptive study of surgical landmarks using 96 temporal bones from the Temporal Bone Laboratory at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Valle University at Cali, Colombia. METHODS: A dissection simulating a canal wall-up mastoidectomy extended to include exposure of the facial recess, epitympanum, and sigmoid sinus was performed on 96 adult disease-free temporal bones. Seven standard measurements were taken on each bone between the sigmoid sinus and other structures in the mastoid cavity. All data were analyzed using Epi-Info 2000. RESULTS: This parametric study was consistent with three classes of anatomic variations in the location of the sigmoid sinus (type 1, type 2, and type 3) based on a Gaussian distribution of the seven variables. CONCLUSIONS: Variability in the anatomic location of the sigmoid sinus in the mastoid cavity is common and has surgical relevance. SIGNIFICANCE: This classification will help to rapidly identify the sigmoid sinus relationship within the mastoid cavity and to use the sigmoid sinus as a landmark during ear surgery in those cases in which traditional landmarks, such as the posterior auditory canal wall or the semicircular canals, are destroyed by a pathologic process.

Humans↗

Cochlear implant after reconstruction of the external bony canal wall and tympanic cavity in radically mastoidectomized patients with cholesteatoma.

One of the postoperative complications of cochlear implants in patients, who previously received radical mastoidectomy, is an exposure of electrode by breakdown of thin epithelium in the open mastoid cavity. To avoid such complications, in the first stage, radical mastoidectomy with the reconstruction of the posterior bony canal wall and mastoid obliteration with bone chips and plates and the creation of the new tympanic cavity, were performed. One or 3 years later, implantation of a 22-channel cochlear implant, as the second stage procedure, was successfully performed in three patients with profound sensorineural hearing loss, due to cholesteatoma in the side of the ear in which cochlear implantation was indicated. The advantages of this technique are as follows: (1) Electrode is protected from the cavity problems, such as chronic infection or erosion of the epithelium in the open mastoid cavity; and (2) reconstruction of the new tympanic cavity and tympanic membrane is beneficial for avoidance of electrode exposure in the mastoid and tympanic cavity.

Aged↗

Low intensity galvanic vestibulo-ocular reflex in normal subjects.

An electrical stimulation in man applied between the two mastoids could facilitate the distinction between labyrinthine and retrolabyrinthine lesions by stimulating directly the primary vestibular afferences. However, for this test to be really effective in current medical practice, the results obtained in normal subjects must be symmetrical and reproducible one day to another. The ocular responses induced by a constant electrical stimulation of 2.5 mA, applied between the two mastoids for 30 s (electrically evoked vestibulo-ocular reflex [EVOR]), in one direction and the other, were quantified in ten healthy subjects. Each subject was studied in two different sessions separated by 1 week. Horizontal eye movements were recorded in darkness by an infrared light reflection eye-tracking system. Slow-phase velocity and nystagmus frequency were about 20% higher when the cathode was on the right mastoid than when it was on the left mastoid. This directional preponderance (DP) displayed large individual differences between the two sessions. The reproducibility of the reflectivity (mean of right and left EVOR) was high (r about 0.8). The weak reproducibility of the DP makes the EVOR at weak intensity inadequate to evaluate unilateral vestibular hypofunction. On the other hand, because of the high reproducibility of reflectivity, the EVOR should be effective in detecting bilateral vestibular hypofunction. Moreover, because of the weak intensity of stimulation, no local anaesthesia is needed so the manoeuvre is easy to repeat in case of chronic diseases.

Adult↗

Cholesteatoma in children.

Of 325 previously untreated cholesteatomas, 109 were found to be in children 13 years old and younger--however, these 109 ears were not found to consist of one clinical entity. Sixty-three of the 109 ears presented a marginal perforation or a retraction pocket, at the level of Shrapnell's membrane or beyond the postero-superior quadrant. In this group the cholesteatoma was distributed mainly in the attic and mastoid and was associated with a non-cellular mastoid. A second group comprising 31 ears presented with cholesteatoma behind an intact drum and were considered to be primary cholesteatomas. These were distributed mostly in the tympanic cavity as cystic epidermoid formations--their mastoid was usually pneumatized. Eight cholesteatomas were related to a central perforation. These ears presented features very similar to the primary cholesteatomas i.e., a pneumatized mastoid and tympanic cavity distribution. The similar features of this group make us think that they may have also originated as primary cholesteatomas which eventually perforated and bring the percentage of primary cholesteatomas in children to 38.3%. Seven of the 109 ears with cholesteatoma were of an indeterminate character.

Adolescent↗

Cochlear implantation in the presence of chronic suppurative otitis media.

Nine patients are presented who underwent cochlear implantation in the presence of chronic suppurative otitis media. Four had a simple tympanic membrane perforation, four had a pre-existing mastoid cavity and one had cholesteatoma in the ear chosen for implantation. Patients with a simple perforation had a staged procedure with myringoplasty followed by cochlear implantation after an interval of three months. Patients with cholesteatoma or with an unstable mastoid cavity were also staged. A mastoidectomy or revision mastoidectomy was performed with obliteration of the middle ear and mastoid using a superiorly pedicled temporalis muscle flap and blind sac closure of the external meatal skin. After a further six months a second stage procedure was performed to confirm that the middle-ear cleft was healthy and to insert the implant. Patients presenting with a stable mastoid cavity underwent obliteration of the cavity and implantation of the electrode as a one-staged procedure. To date there have been no serious problems such as graft breakdown, recurrence of disease or implant extrusion, and all patients are performing well.

Child, Preschool↗

[Isolated unilateral otitis with facial nerve paralysis as initial symptom of Wegener granulomatosis. An unusual clinical course].

BACKGROUND: Wegener's granulomatosis is an immunepathogenic disease of unknown origin. The histopathological picture shows granulomatous inflammation with epitheloid cells, granulomas, and general vasculitis. The diagnosis of Wegener's granulomatosis is made on the basis of the clinical picture, serum cANCA, and histologic examination of biopsies. PATIENT: We present the case of a 57-year-old white male patient who was admitted to our ENT Hospital with a six weeks' history of otalgia and incomplete ipsilateral facial palsy since the day before admission. The patient had clinical features of acute otitis media without signs of mastoiditis. Despite a ten days' course of intravenous antibiotic treatment, the intensity of facial palsy progressed and the general condition of the patient worsened. A mastoidectomy and decompression of the facial nerve were performed, demonstrating sclerosis of the mastoid cells. Three weeks after release from the hospital, the patient was admitted again with recurrent fever, cephalea, loss of weight, and arthritic pain. There were no signs of recurrent otitis media or mastoiditis, and sigmoid sinus thrombosis was ruled out. Even under aggressive, intravenous antibiotic treatment the general physical condition continued to worsen; septic temperatures and signs of beginning renal failure occurred. The patient was transferred to the ICU with the diagnosis of sepsis of unknown origin. There bloodtests were positive for cANCA, which is highly specific for Wegener's granulomatosis. Under therapy with cyclophosphamide and i.v. corticosteroid, the patient recovered with 14 days. CONCLUSION: The lack of symptoms in the upper respiratory tract in our patient was unusual, indicating that in patients with recurrent otitis media, facial palsy, mastoiditis, or external otitis Wegener's granulomatosis should be ruled out as differential diagnosis.

Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic↗

Reconstruction of mastoidectomy defect with titanium mesh.

OBJECTIVE: Intact-canal-wall mastoidectomy procedures leave an unsightly depression in the postauricular area. Until now, there have been few reports of successful reconstruction of mastoidectomy defects, and none using titanium mesh. When secondary mastoidectomy is not anticipated, as in endolymphatic sac shunt procedures, the postauricular defect resulting from mastoidectomy can be eliminated by reconstruction using titanium mesh. This is a retrospective study of 14 patients who underwent reconstruction of a mastoidectomy defect with titanium mesh. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All 14 patients underwent mastoidectomy as part of endolymphatic sac shunt procedures for Ménière's disease. All of the patients had mastoid bones free of chronic infection or cholesteatoma. At the time of mastoidectomy, a large piece of cortical bone was removed and saved instead of being drilled away. After the main procedure was completed, and before closing the postauricular skin, a piece of 1.3-mm titanium mesh was cut to cover the mastoidectomy defect. The mesh was then attached to the mastoid bone at the four corners using 4- or 6-mm screws. The piece of cortical bone removed at the beginning of the mastoidectomy was attached under the mesh and across the mastoid defect. Patients were followed for a period of 6 months to 3 years. The outcome was considered successful when there was no depression at the mastoidectomy site and no evidence of any infection. RESULTS: All patients who underwent reconstruction of a mastoidectomy defect with titanium mesh maintained a normal contour of the mastoid bone without depression or infection. There were no failures. CONCLUSIONS: Mastoidectomy defect reconstruction with titanium mesh is a reliable method for preventing an unsightly depression at the mastoidectomy site. This method is ideal when repeat mastoidectomy is not expected.

Biocompatible Materials↗

Hyperectasis: the hyperinflated tympanic membrane: the middle ear as an actively controlled system.

OBJECTIVE: To describe and analyze a middle ear condition in which the steady state of the middle ear pressure is elevated above the atmospheric pressure. SETTING AND STUDY DESIGN: This is a long-term survey of 59 patients from a private clinic who were observed on routine examination to have a ballooned out (hyperinflated) tympanic membrane. INTERVENTION: All patients underwent hearing tests, tympanometry, and Shullers (lateral) mastoid radiography. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A hyperinflated tympanic membrane indicates a middle ear pressure that is higher than atmospheric pressure. The ballooned tympanic membrane returns to its physiological level after being punctured. This pressure situation is the reverse or opposite of atelectasis and is therefore termed hyperectasis. Hyperectasis, like atelectasis, is associated with a poorly pneumatized mastoid. RESULTS: Fifty-nine hyperectatic ears persisted in their hyperinflated state for weeks, months, or even years. The hyperectasis was preceded by atelectasis, and both conditions occasionally changed one into the other. The ballooned part of the tympanic membrane is usually thin and "scarred." Hyperectasis is not a rare situation and, once recognized, can be readily encountered in an otologic clinic. CONCLUSIONS: Like most biologic systems (e.g., blood pressure, temperature), the middle ear's central feature, i.e., pressure, also has a dynamic character vacillating up and down. It is conceivable that middle ear pressure is also actively regulated and controlled with the aid of a feedback mechanism. Passage of gas through the eustachian tube or absorption by diffusion-perfusion is also at least partly an active process. The up and down middle ear pressure vacillations are usually clinically benign and do not lead to any pathologic features as long as they are buffered by an accompanying normal mastoid pneumatization. It is the ear with a nonpneumatized mastoid that has limited ability to buffer pressure changes and that will present as an atelectasis, a retraction pocket, or (eventually a cholesteatoma) or their reverse, a hyperectatic tympanic membrane.

Acoustic Impedance Tests↗

Autophony in patients with patulous eustachian tube: experimental investigation using an artificial middle ear.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the contribution of anatomical factors, such as the caliber of the patent eustachian tube (ET) and the volume of the middle ear cavity, on vocalized sound transmission to the inner ear. METHODS: Model experiment using artificial middle ear. RESULTS: In the present model experiment, sound transmission from the pharynx to the inner ear under patulous conditions was affected by the caliber of the ET and by the mastoid volume, especially in the low-frequency region, that is, a larger caliber of the ET and smaller mastoid volume resulted in greater sound transmission from the pharyngeal space to the inner ear. CONCLUSION: Patulous symptoms may be more distressful in patients with poorly developed mastoid cavity than in those with well-aerated mastoid under similar conditions of patulous ET.

Adult↗

Cochlear implant surgery at 12 months of age or younger.

OBJECTIVES: Early presentation of congenitally deaf children for cochlear implantation is leading to surgery in younger candidates. The safety of cochlear implantation in children aged 12 months and younger is reviewed with radiologic assessment of mastoid bone anatomy and surgical outcome data. STUDY DESIGN: Analysis of case records and temporal bone computed tomography (CT) scans with description of surgical technique in infants. METHODS: Chart analysis of children aged 12 months or younger at cochlear implantation. Mastoid bone anatomy was compared with older children (mean age 2 years) using CT scans. RESULTS: Twenty-five infants received implants at 7 to 12 months of age because of meningitis (n = 4) or early detection of deafness (n = 21). Mastoid marrow content on CT scan was significantly greater in this age group (P < .001 Mann-Whitney rank sum test), but pneumatization was always adequate for safe identification of surgical landmarks. The smaller size of the mastoid bone was not restrictive. An extended postauricular approach was used in the first 11 cases and a 2.5 cm hair-line incision in the remainder. Ligature tie-down of the device was completed in all cases. No complications occurred. All are full-time implant users, except one with other neurologic sequelae of preoperative meningitis. CONCLUSIONS: In our experience, cochlear implant surgery is safe in children aged 7 to 12 months with appropriate anesthetic and postoperative support. The small incision technique is particularly suited to this age group. Ligature fixation of the device is considered advisable because of the increased risk of displacement from frequent falls when learning to walk.

Age Factors↗

Deep temporal fascial-periosteal flap for canal wall down mastoidectomy.

It is very important to make a safe, dry, trouble-free ear for the canal wall down mastoidectomy. Although fascia graft is the most common material used for the repair of the perforated tympanic membrane, it is usually too small to cover the whole mastoid cavity in canal wall down mastoidectomy. The presence of exposed bone delays the epithelialization and results in prolonged otorrhea. We present a new simple technique that uses a postauricular, inferiorly based pedicled flap. Although our deep temporalis fascial-periosteal flap is not bulky, it is large enough to obliterate a sclerotic mastoid cavity without the need for additional flaps. It shrinks much less than a muscular flap during the healing period. In addition to reducing the cavity volume, this flap promotes the epithelialization over the bone and the shortening of the healing time. Although only a small number of patients were included in this study, coverage of a canal wall down mastoid cavity by a deep temporalis fascial-periosteal flap is expected to be a reliable and effective technique that results in a dry, trouble-free mastoid cavity.

Chronic Disease↗

Complications of ear disease.

Forty-seven patients with acute mastoiditis were treated in our hospital over a 2 and a half year period. Seven patients were symptomatic for a short period only. The other 40 gave a history of chronic ear disease, 22 of them with cholesteatoma. Post auricular swelling is an important sign of acute mastoiditis but was found in only 64% of the patients. Forty-five percent of our patients were found to have infection spread beyond the mastoid. Meningitis was the most common complication (13 patients). Most of the patients who presented without post auricular swelling were diagnosed as a result of having one or more complications. We believe that in cases of intracranial pathology or septic fever associated with ear disease, the diagnosis of mastoiditis is most likely. Early operation combined with appropriate antibiotic treatment can prevent further complications and fatal outcome.

Acute Disease↗

Bone pâté obliteration or revision mastoidectomy: a five-symptom comparative study.

A survey of 47 patients who underwent surgical treatment for persistent symptomatic mastoid cavities following mastoidectomy for cholesteatoma, was carried out. There were two groups comprising 26 patients who underwent revision mastoidectomy (14 with meatoplasty); the technique favoured early in the series, and 21 managed by mastoid revision and obliteration with autologous bone pâté and a superiorly based temporalis musculo-periosteal flap. A questionnaire was used to assign a symptom score to each patient's pre and post-operative condition, with a maximum score of 15 and minimum of zero. The pre-operative scores for the two groups were not significantly different, but the patients treated by obliteration with bone pâté had a significantly lower (P = 0.05) postoperative symptom score than those who had their mastoids simply revised. This study suggests that revision mastoidectomy with bone pâté obliteration achieves a more favourable result than revision mastoidectomy alone, and is, we believe, the technique of choice for the patient with a symptomatic mastoid cavity.

Adult↗

Transcanal atticoaditotomy and transcortical mastoidectomy for cholesteatoma: the Farrior-Olaizola technique revisited.

Conservative mastoid surgery in the management of middle ear cholesteatoma has been a subject of controversy for decades. Proponents of the combined-approach tympanoplasty for cholesteatoma do not entirely support the conservative approach in children, especially in the hands of an inexperienced surgeon. We describe here our experience with a modified technique of conservative mastoid surgery involving an atticoaditotomy and a separate simple mastoidectomy with lateral attic wall reconstruction (modified Farrior technique) that can be relatively safely used in the majority of cases of chronic squamous otitis media, even in children. This was a prospective analysis of the therapeutic effects and benefits of the technique used in 103 cases of cholesteatoma at Staffordshire General Hospital from 1991 to 1997. The follow-up was between 3 and 9 years. The study group consisted of 55 male patients and 48 female patients, including 28 children less than 16 years of age. The age ranges were 9 to 61 years in male patients and 10 to 48 years in female patients. After an audiological assessment, all patients underwent the described mastoid procedure, and some of them required revision surgery, mostly for a second look or for ossiculoplasty. The chief outcome measures used were complete eradication of disease, incidence of disease recurrence, and restoration of hearing. The steps of the procedure, its pros and cons, and the results of the series are presented. Also discussed is an overview of the literature pertaining to intact-canal wall mastoid surgery. Of the 103 patients, only 3 had a recurrence of disease, and 9 patients showed no hearing improvement. We conclude that this modified technique has several advantages over the previously described mastoidectomy procedures. It is a relatively simple and effective technique that can be performed even in children.

Adolescent↗

Postnatal growth of the human temporal bone. Implications for cochlear implants in children.

Recent interest in cochlear implantation for children has made it important to understand how postnatal growth of the ear will affect such devices. In this study, the postnatal growth of the labyrinth, middle ear, and mastoid was measured in three dimensions using radiographic and temporal bone data. Measurements were made from histologic sections of 48 temporal bones from children and compared to adult temporal bones. Radiographic measurements were made from 253 sets of skull radiographs of children and compared to adult skull series. In the three dimensions measured, there was no postnatal growth of the labyrinth and little variation in size between individuals. Measurements of the middle ear showed greater variation between individuals than measurements of the inner ear, but growth only in the distance from stapes footplate to the tympanic membrane. The mastoid showed growth in all three dimensions: length, width, and depth. The pattern of growth for mastoid length and width appears to follow a double logistic model, with differences between males and females. The growth in mastoid depth is smaller and appears to follow a single exponential curve. The implications for cochlear implantation in children are discussed.

Child↗