Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Long-term outcomes of retrospective case series of middle ear implantation with Vibrant Soundbridge in children with congenital aural atresia

  • Otology
  • Published:
European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

to assess audiological performance in quiet and noise, quality of life and side effects of Vibrant Soundbridge (VSB) in children with congenital aural atresia (CAA).

Methods

A retrospective study including consecutive patients with unilateral or bilateral CAA implanted with VSB from 2009 to 2020 in a tertiary referral centre.

Results

18 patients with CAA and a present stapes were included (3 simultaneous bilateral VSB implants) and 21 ears: 17 VSB were attached to the short incus process, and four to the stapes. Age at implantation ranged from 4.7 to 15.8 years. Average follow-up was 6.5 years (± 3.7 years). In unilateral VSB, air conduction pure tone average (ACPTA) thresholds increased from 75.3 ± 15.2 to 32.6 ± 8.3 dB post-operatively (VSB activated) (n = 15; p < 0.01). The speech reception threshold (SRT) and the word recognition score (WRS) were significantly improved from 81.5 ± 10.4 to 43.9 ± 7.6 dB and 0% to 84.8 ± 8.5% postoperatively (n = 15; p < 0.01). The signal to noise ratio (SNR) was significantly improved from 2.1 ± 2.9 dB VSB inactivated to 0.3 ± 2.7 dB VSB activated (n = 15; p < 0.01). There was no significant difference in performance according to floating mass transducer (FMT) placement. 5/15 children were non-users at last follow-up in unilateral VSB and 0/3 in bilateral.

Conclusions

CAA ears with VSB activated had a significant improvement of ACPTA, WRS, SRT and SNR. A third of patients with unilateral CAA became non-users at last follow-up. The main challenge is to target the indications for the implantation of the VSB to avoid its discontinuation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Abdel-Aziz M (2013) Congenital aural atresia. J Craniofac Surg 24:e418-422

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Luquetti DV, Heike CL, Hing AV et al (2012) Microtia: epidemiology and genetics. Am J Med Genet A 158A:124–139

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Leinung M, Zaretsky E, Lange BP et al (2017) Vibrant Soundbridge® in preschool children with unilateral aural atresia: acceptance and benefit. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 274:159–165

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Kumpik DP, King AJ (2019) A review of the effects of unilateral hearing loss on spatial hearing. Hear Res 372:17–28

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  5. Lloyd S, Almeyda J, Sirimanna KS et al (2007) Updated surgical experience with bone-anchored hearing aids in children. J Laryngol Otol 121:826–831

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Agterberg MJH, Hol MKS, Cremers CWRJ et al (2011) Conductive hearing loss and bone conduction devices: restored binaural hearing? Adv Otorhinolaryngol 71:84–91

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Célérier C, Thierry B, Coudert C et al (2017) Results of VSB implantation at the short process of the incus in children with ear atresia. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 93:83–87

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Maier H, Baumann U, Baumgartner W-D et al (2018) Minimal reporting standards for active middle ear hearing implants. Audiol Neurootol 23:105–115

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Galvin KL, Noble W (2013) Adaptation of the speech, spatial, and qualities of hearing scale for use with children, parents, and teachers. Cochlear Implants Int 14:135–141

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Gatehouse S, Noble W (2004) The speech, spatial and qualities of hearing scale (SSQ). Int J Audiol 43:85–99

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  11. Moulin A, Pauzie A, Richard C (2015) Validation of a French translation of the Speech, Spatial, and Qualities of Hearing Scale (SSQ) and comparison with other language versions. Int J Audiol 54:889–898

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. von Elm E, Altman DG, Egger M et al (2014) The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) Statement: guidelines for reporting observational studies. Int J Surg 12:1495–1499

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Frenzel H, Sprinzl G, Streitberger C et al (2015) The vibrant soundbridge in children and adolescents: preliminary European multicenter results. Otol Neurotol 36:1216–1222

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Lailach S, Zahnert T, Maurer J et al (2020) The vibrating ossicular prosthesis in children and adolescents: a retrospective study. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 277:55–60

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Frenzel H, Hanke F, Beltrame M et al (2009) Application of the Vibrant Soundbridge to unilateral osseous atresia cases. Laryngoscope 119:67–74

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Müller A, Mir-Salim P, Zellhuber N et al (2017) Influence of floating-mass transducer coupling efficiency for active middle-ear implants on speech recognition. Otol Neurotol 38:809–814

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Fröhlich L, Rahne T, Plontke SK et al (2021) Intraoperative quantification of floating mass transducer coupling quality in active middle ear implants: a multicenter study. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 278:2277–2288

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Clarós P, Pujol del MC (2013) Active middle ear implants: VibroplastyTM in children and adolescents with acquired or congenital middle ear disorders. Acta Otolaryngol 133:612–619

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Lesinskas E, Stankeviciute V, Petrulionis M (2012) Application of the Vibrant Soundbridge middle-ear implant for aural atresia in patients with Treacher Collins syndrome. J Laryngol Otol 126:1216–1223

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Roman S, Denoyelle F, Farinetti A et al (2012) Middle ear implant in conductive and mixed congenital hearing loss in children. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 76:1775–1778

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Hempel J-M, Sprinzl G, Riechelmann H et al (2019) A Transcutaneous active middle ear implant (AMEI) in children and adolescents: long-term, multicenter results. Otol Neurotol 40:1059–1067

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Frenzel H, Schönweiler R, Hanke F et al (2012) The Lübeck flowchart for functional and aesthetic rehabilitation of aural atresia and microtia. Otol Neurotol 33:1363–1367

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Morton CC, Nance WE (2006) Newborn hearing screening–a silent revolution. N Engl J Med 354:2151–2164

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Vogt K, Frenzel H, Ausili SA et al (2018) Improved directional hearing of children with congenital unilateral conductive hearing loss implanted with an active bone-conduction implant or an active middle ear implant. Hear Res 370:238–247

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  25. Agterberg MJH, Frenzel H, Wollenberg B et al (2014) Amplification options in unilateral aural atresia: an active middle ear implant or a bone conduction device? Otol Neurotol 35:129–135

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Özdemir S, Tuncer Ü, Tarkan Ö et al (2013) Factors contributing to limited or non-use in the cochlear implant systems in children: 11 years experience. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 77:407–409

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Markey AL, Nichani J, Lockley M et al (2015) Cochlear implantation in adolescents: factors influencing compliance. Cochlear Implants Int 16:186–194

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Sargsyan S, Rahne T, Kösling S et al (2014) Hearing rehabilitation with single-stage bilateral vibroplasty in a child with Franceschetti syndrome. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 271:1339–1343

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Chandrasekhar SS, De la Cruz A, Garrido E (1995) Surgery of congenital aural atresia. Am J Otol 16:713–717

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Jahrsdoerfer RA, Lambert PR (1998) Facial nerve injury in congenital aural atresia surgery. Am J Otol 19:283–287

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Kiefer J, Staudenmaier R (2010) Combined aesthetic and functional reconstruction of ear malformations. Adv Otorhinolaryngol 68:81–94

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Kelley PE, Scholes MA (2007) Microtia and congenital aural atresia. Otolaryngol Clin N Am 40(61–80):vi

    Google Scholar 

  33. De la Cruz A, Teufert KB (2003) Congenital aural atresia surgery: long-term results. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 129:121–127

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Keller WD, Bundy RS (1980) Effects of unilateral hearing loss upon educational achievement. Child Care Health Dev 6:93–100

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Ito K (1998) Can unilateral hearing loss be a handicap in learning? Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 124:1389–1390

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Lieu JEC (2004) Speech-language and educational consequences of unilateral hearing loss in children. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 130:524–530

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Priwin C, Jönsson R, Magnusson L et al (2007) Audiological evaluation and self-assessed hearing problems in subjects with single-sided congenital external ear malformations and associated conductive hearing loss. Int J Audiol 46:162–171

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Université Paris Cité, 75006, Paris, France

    Barbara Cadre, François Simon & Françoise Denoyelle

  2. Department of Paediatric Otolaryngology, AP-HP, Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, 149 rue de Sèvres, 75015, Paris, France

    Barbara Cadre, François Simon, Charlotte Célérier, Cyrille Coudert, Jonathan Flament, Natalie Loundon & Françoise Denoyelle

  3. Audika Hearing Expertise Laboratory, 19, avenue des Gobelins, 75005, Paris, France

    Cyrille Coudert & Jonathan Flament

  4. Department of Radiology, AP-HP, Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, 75015, Paris, France

    Kahina Belhous

Authors
  1. Barbara Cadre
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. François Simon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Charlotte Célérier
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Cyrille Coudert
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Jonathan Flament
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Natalie Loundon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Kahina Belhous
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Françoise Denoyelle
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to François Simon.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary Information

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary file1 (DOCX 14 KB)

Supplementary file2 (DOCX 27 KB)

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Cadre, B., Simon, F., Célérier, C. et al. Long-term outcomes of retrospective case series of middle ear implantation with Vibrant Soundbridge in children with congenital aural atresia. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 280, 1629–1637 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-022-07633-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-022-07633-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation