Surgical treatment of superior semicircular canal dehiscence: a
single-centre experience in 63 cases.
Abstract
Background: Superior semicircular canal dehiscence syndrome may require
surgical intervention for disabling symptoms. Various surgical
procedures have been described but there is no consensus on any
treatment algorithm. Methods: In this single-centre retrospective study,
we report the results of the procedures performed between 2006 and 2019
using the three main surgical approaches, middle fossa approach (MFA),
transmastoid approach (TMA) and round window reinforcement (RWR). The
outcome on cardinal cochlear and vestibular symptoms, audiometric
results and changes in cVEMPs were analysed. The patients were also
interviewed 12 months to 13 years post-treatment to establish their
overall satisfaction following surgery. Results: 63 patients were
divided into three groups: 42 MFA; 12 RWR; 9 TMA. Post-surgical control
rates exceeded 80% for the majority of symptoms in the MFA and TMA
groups, and ranged from 11.1 to 83.3% for the RWR group. Over 90% of
MFA or TMA patients and 60% of the RWR cohort were satisfied overall
with their treatment. Hearing thresholds were intact following surgery
in the MFA and TMA groups. There was one case of profound post-operative
deafness in the RWR group. Discussion: MFA and TMA are both safe and
effective techniques in the treatment of disabling SSCD. Since MFA is
the more invasive technique, this study suggests that TMA should be
proposed as first-line treatment, temporal bone anatomy permitting. RWR
outcomes are more random and this option could be offered to patients at
risk under general anaesthesia. Key words: Minor syndrome, superior
canal dehiscence, hearing loss, vertigo.