Third window vibroplasty: an alternative in surgical treatment of tympanosclerotic obliteration of the oval and round window niche.
OBJECTIVE
To describe a new technique in surgical treatment of obliterative tympanosclerosis by applying a floating mass transducer (FMT) to a third window.


METHODS
A 64-year-old woman with a severe combined hearing loss due to tympanosclerosis received a third window vibroplasty.


METHODS
A mastoidectomy and a posterior tympanotomy via the large facial recess were performed. The promontory was exposed by a transcanal approach. The third window was performed anterior inferior to the round window. The membranous cochlea was left intact. The FMT was gently pushed into the perichondrium-coated cochlear window. All other surgical steps were the same as in conventional FMT application.


RESULTS
Preliminary data of this report reveal that vibroplasty with coupling of the FMT directly to a third window leads to similar audiological results compared with the conventional coupling of the FMT on the round window niche.


CONCLUSIONS
The presented case demonstrates the applicability of a third window vibroplasty in obliterative tympanosclerosis. Further studies will show if our assumption of a reduced risk for inner ear trauma is justified or not.
Pau
Hans Wilhelm
HW
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany. hans-wilhelm.pau@med.uni-rostock.de
Just
Tino
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D001299:Audiometry; D001844:Bone Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D003051:Cochlea / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000150:complications; D013506:Otologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D010046:Oval Window, Ear / Q000601:surgery*; D012405:Round Window, Ear / Q000601:surgery*; D013067:Speech Perception; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014432:Tympanic Membrane / Q000601:surgery*