Post-stapedectomy reparative granuloma: a misnomer

Post-stapedotomy reparative granuloma following use of acellular porcine small intestinal submucosa

PURPOSE

There have been multiple proposed etiologies of reparative granuloma following stapes surgery. In this report, we present the first case of post-stapedectomy reparative granuloma following the use of Biodesign (Cook Medical, Bloomington, IN) otologic graft material, an acellular matrix derived from porcine small intestinal submucosa, and review the literature of post-stapes surgery reparative granuloma.

PATIENT

50-year-old woman who developed a reparative granuloma following stapedotomy with acellular porcine intestinal submucosa presenting with profound hearing loss and vertigo.

INTERVENTION

Middle ear exploration with excision of granuloma and revision stapedotomy.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Audiologic outcomes as measured by pure-tone air and bone conduction thresholds and word recognition scores. Improvement in vertigo.

MAIN FINDINGS

Surgical excision of the reparative granuloma with revision stapedotomy resolved vertigo. Hearing has improved progressively postoperatively.

CONCLUSIONS

We report the first case of post-stapedotomy reparative granuloma following the use of acellular porcine intestinal submucosa. Although exact etiology cannot be determined from a single case report, this illustrates the need for careful use of novel foreign graft material. This case additionally confirms that removal of granuloma and inciting materials can salvage serviceable hearing.

Post-stapedectomy granuloma: a devastating complication

OBJECTIVES

This paper reports three cases of severe post-stapedectomy granuloma, emphasising the variable presentation of this devastating complication and the challenges of its management.

METHODS

A retrospective review was conducted of three cases of post-stapedectomy granuloma requiring surgical debulking between 2010 and 2015. Clinical symptoms, serial imaging, histopathology and post-operative outcomes were considered.

RESULTS

Intra-operatively, extensive granulation tissue with erosion of the otic capsule was found. There was spread along the VIIth and VIIIth cranial nerves to the cochlear nucleus in one patient. Post-operative clinical improvement was demonstrable, corroborated by diminution of contrast enhancement on serial magnetic resonance imaging. Facial nerve function recovered, tinnitus amelioration was variable and some otalgia persisted. Post-operative complications included grade IV facial weakness and late Pseudomonas aeruginosa meningitis, which all resolved.

CONCLUSION

To the authors' knowledge, this paper reports the only case of post-stapedectomy granuloma tracking to the brainstem. Otalgia was present in all our cases, and may be deemed a red flag symptom of progressive bony destruction and otic capsule involvement. Although granuloma remains rare, it should be considered in any patient with worsening otological symptoms following stapes surgery.

Surgery of the ear and the lateral skull base: pitfalls and complications

Surgery of the ear and the lateral skull base is a fascinating, yet challenging field in otorhinolaryngology. A thorough knowledge of the associated complications and pitfalls is indispensable for the surgeon, not only to provide the best possible care to his patients, but also to further improve his surgical skills. Following a summary about general aspects in pre-, intra-and postoperative care of patients with disorders of the ear/lateral skull base, this article covers the most common pitfalls and complications in stapes surgery, cochlear implantation and surgery of vestibular schwannomas and jugulotympanal paragangliomas. Based on these exemplary procedures, basic "dos and don'ts" of skull base surgery are explained, which the reader can easily transfer to other disorders. Special emphasis is laid on functional aspects, such as hearing, balance and facial nerve function. Furthermore, the topics of infection, bleeding, skull base defects, quality of life and indication for revision surgery are discussed. An open communication about complications and pitfalls in ear/lateral skull base surgery among surgeons is a prerequisite for the further advancement of this fascinating field in ENT surgery. This article is meant to be a contribution to this process.

Reparative granuloma following stapes surgery

Reparative granuloma of the oval window is an uncommon complication of stapes surgery, which usually develops within one to six weeks after operation and causes a sudden hearing loss and disturbance of balance. We report 2 cases of post-stapedectomy reparative granuloma that developed during the tenure of senior surgeon (AM).

Imagerie des échecs et complications post-opératoires de la chirurgie de l’otospongiose

Otosclerosis (OS) is a dysplasia of the otic capsule located in most cases on the anterior margin of the oval window or fissula ante fenestrum. Progressive conductive hearing loss is the major clinical symptom, due to stapedovestibular ankylosis. Stapes surgery is the only effective treatment of OS, with excellent functional results in more than 90% of cases. However, failures and complications of the surgery may be observed. In theses cases, the etiologic work-up includes imaging evaluation (CT and MRI). Imaging findings are extremely useful in the therapeutic decision. Surgical failure represents 80% of the causes for surgical revision. The main causes of failure are: displacement of the prosthesis, fibrosis of the oval window, erosion of the long process of the incus, incudo-mallear dislocation, obliterative otosclerosis. CT is essential for diagnosis. MR imaging is rarely indicated in the work-up of surgical failures. Labyrinthine complications account for less than 20% of surgical revisions. Etiologies of labyrinthine complications are: intravestibular penetration of the prosthesis, perilymphatic fistula, intra-vestibular granuloma, labyrinthitis and intravestibular bleeding. CT and MRI are complementary for the work up of these complications.

Stapesfixation bei Kindern

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

The audiometric results after stapes surgery in children with isolated stapes footplate fixation were reason enough to analyze intraoperative findings and surgical procedures.

PATIENTS/METHODS

A total of 438 stapes surgeries were performed in the years 1985-2000, and a retrospective analysis was made of the anamnestic data, intraoperative findings and audiometric data from 12 children with isolated fixation of the stapes footplate. The average age of the children when operated was 10.2 years (the youngest was 7 and the eldest 13). A loss of hearing had set in 5 years earlier.

RESULTS

Taking the anamnestic data and the intraoperative into account, otosclerosis was found in 5 children. One child had a narrow oval window niche, in a further six children a congenital fixation of the stapes footplate was evident. Only 58% (n=7) of the 12 children operated showed acceptable postoperative hearing results. The best hearing results were found in children with juvenile otosclerosis. In three of six children with congenital stapes fixation, a worsening of both bone and air conduction was evident. The average conductive hearing loss was 30 dB at 1, 2 and 4 kHz.

CONCLUSIONS

When explorative tympanotomy is indicated, a thin-layer CT scan of the temporal bone should be made to assess the risk of a liquor pressure labyrinth developing.

Reparative granuloma seen in cases of gold piston implantation after stapes surgery for otosclerosis

OBJECTIVE

to determine the occurrence of the unusual side effect of a reparative granuloma after the implantation of a pure gold piston in cases of otosclerosis.

STUDY DESIGN

a retrospective case review study of 475 stapes operations with a pure gold piston.

SETTING

Department of Otorhinolaryngology of the University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands and the HNO clinic in Luenen (Brambauer) in Germany.

PATIENTS

four hundred and seventy five patients (328 women, 147 men, average age: 45.2 years), who clinically and per-operatively had otosclerosis, underwent a stapedotomy using a pure gold piston prosthesis. Therapeutic intervention: in cases of suspicion of a reparative granulomas or those cases that did not have improvement of the hearing after the stapedotomy, a re-operation by transcanal approach was performed.

RESULTS

in seven cases a reparative granuloma was diagnosed by this revision surgery. The postoperative incidence of these granulomas following stapedotomy using the pure gold piston turned out to be 1.5%.

CONCLUSION

reparative granulomas can occur after stapedotomy with a pure gold stapes piston although the incidence is low. The role of grafting material to seal the oval window niche and the treatment of these reparative granulomas following stapes surgery are discussed.