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Anatomic variability of oval window as pertaining to stapes surgery

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of the study is to study the details of dimensions and shape of oval window in different age groups, sides and genders and their clinical implications. The oval window is a key structure while performing surgeries in relation to stapes. An intricate knowledge of the shape and size of the oval window is important for the reconstruction and fitting of cartilage compatible with the native shape of the oval window.

Methods

Sixty normal wet cadaveric temporal bones of known age; gender and side were micro-dissected. The maximum height and width of the oval window was measured. The shape of the oval window was noticed.

Results

The mean value for maximum height and width of the oval window was 1.31 ± 0.28 mm and 2.67 ± 0.42 mm, respectively. The height and width of the oval window ranged between 1 mm and 1.5 mm and 2 mm and 3 mm in majority of the cases.  he oval window was found to be oval shaped in 53.3% cases, other shapes such as kidney, D shape, rectangular or trapezoidal were also observed.

Conclusions

The refined morphometric information of the oval window will help in preoperative assessment and surgical planning of various oval window-related surgical procedures. The knowledge may also help in designing and selecting proper cartilage shoe for the best outcome. Narrow oval window may cause procedural complications and surgeon discomfort in various stapes surgeries.

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Acknowledgements

The authors sincerely thank Mr. Vijay Kant Bakshi and Mr Pradeep for skillful photography and Mr. Puneet Singal for his help in data analysis. The authors are thankful to the family members for donation of the cadavers. May their soul rest in peace. The study was supported by a Grant from the Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, India (Grant No. 51/2/2011-BMS).

Funding

Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, India (Grant No. 51/2/2011-BMS).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bathinda, Punjab, India

    Anjali Singal

  2. Department of Anatomy, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, 160012, India

    Daisy Sahni, Tulika Gupta & Anjali Aggarwal

  3. Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head-Neck Surgery, Fortis Hospital, Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar, India

    Ashok Kumar Gupta

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  1. Anjali Singal
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  2. Daisy Sahni
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  3. Tulika Gupta
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  4. Anjali Aggarwal
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  5. Ashok Kumar Gupta
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Contributions

AS: project development, data collection, manuscript writing. DS: project development, data analysis. TG: data analysis, manuscript writing. AA: project development, manuscript editing. AKG: project development.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tulika Gupta.

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Singal, A., Sahni, D., Gupta, T. et al. Anatomic variability of oval window as pertaining to stapes surgery. Surg Radiol Anat 42, 329–335 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-019-02347-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-019-02347-z

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