Does topical application of ofloxacin to the intact tympanic membrane (TM) compare to systemic administration? Background: Acute otitis media (AOM) is routinely treated with systemic antibiotics, which have been linked to antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria. Generally, topical therapy is considered appropriate if the TM is nonintact and permits solutions placed in the external auditory canal to […]
Is Comprehensive ASNHL Screening Always Needed?
What are the costs and diagnostic yield of screening patients presenting with asymmetrical sensorineural hearing loss (ASNHL)? Background: The magnitude of workup on a patient with ASNHL of an uncertain onset or chronic nature is a problem commonly encountered by otolaryngologists. The typical comprehensive workup includes a number of expensive tests, including a battery of serologic […]
Demographic Disparities Exist Among Children with Otitis Media
What are the current racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in the prevalence of frequent ear infections (FEI) among children in the U.S.? Background: There has been an increase in the prevalence of otitis media reported in the U.S. in the 1980s and 1990s. An understanding of the size and distribution of the population of children with FEI […]
Carbon Dioxide Laser-Assisted Cartilage Reshaping Otoplasty
How does the new technique of carbon dioxide laser-assisted cartilage reshaping (CO2 LACR) otoplasty work and what are the outcomes? Background: With more than 200 different otoplasty techniques, no single technique is considered the standard of care. Otoplasty techniques are cartilage sculpting (cutting), cartilage sparing (suturing) or a composite of the two. Problems associated with these techniques […]
Understanding Otosclerosis Etiology and Impacting Factors
What is the current understanding of the etiology of otosclerosis and what are the genetic and environmental factors that have been implicated in the disease? Background: A common disease characterized by a disordered bone remodeling in the otic capsule, otosclerosis has a prevalence of about 0.3 percent to 0.4 percent in the Caucasian population. In 10 […]
The Faculty Mentor from the Resident’s Perspective
What is the experience of residents regarding mentorship during their otolaryngology residency? Background: Integral to the educational experience is the relationship between faculty and residents, which is based upon multiple types of encounters, including formal teaching sessions, clinical care of patients, surgical training and research activities. The embodiment of this relationship is the faculty mentor whose […]
MRI Useful for Identification of Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss Etiology
What is the evidence for different etiologies of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL)? Background: The incidence of SSNHL has been estimated from five to 20 per 100,000 persons per year, but the causes are speculative and probably multifactorial. While identifying the most commonly reported etiologies of SSNHL, the ultimate goal of this study was to develop […]
Dehiscence Size in SSCD Correlates with Air-Bone Gap Size
Does the size of the dehiscence in SSCD correlate with the size of the air-bone gap? Background: Patients with superior semicircular canal dehiscence (SSCD) present with a variety of symptoms that may include a low frequency conductive hearing loss on pure-tone audiometry. It has been postulated that this air-bone gap happens when the dehiscent superior […]
A Longer Shelf Life for Antimicrobial Ear Drops
What can physicians tell patients about the shelf life of antimicrobial ear drops and when bottles might become contaminated after use in the infected ear canal? Background: Little evidence exists regarding the shelf life of antimicrobial ear drops after opening or when patients should discard the bottle. Additionnally, little is known about contamination after use […]
KTP and CO2 Laser Fiber Stapedotomy Compared
What is the safety and efficacy of the OmniGuide handheld fiber for CO2 laser stapedotomy as compared to the handheld potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP) laser in patients undergoing stapedotomy for otosclerosis? Background: While both argon and KTP lasers can potentially have thermal effects on deep inner ear structures, CO2 lasers have been considered safer. However, […]