Real-time intraoperative fluoroscopy is a useful adjunct to cochlear implantation in selected cases. The advantages include the avoidance of complications such as extracochlear array placement, intrameatal array insertion, and avoidance of significant bending or kinking. This is particularly useful when implanting a severely abnormal cochlea. The technique was initially developed for laboratory study of electrode prototypes in cadaver temporal bones to evaluate insertion dynamics and mechanisms of intracochlear trauma. The technique was subsequently adapted for use in live surgeries. Live surgeries were performed using fluoroscopic guidance on nine patients. Five patients were implanted with the Nucleus 24 RCS during preclinical trials. Two patients with severe cochlear malformations were implanted with a Nucleus CI24M straight array. Two patients with severe cochlear ossification were implanted with the Nucleus CI24 double array. Appropriate insertions were achieved without electrode damage in all cases. Intraoperative fluoroscopy is a useful adjunct to cochlear implantation, which can be performed with minimum risk to the patient and operating room staff if the outlined precautions are taken. Intraoperative fluoroscopy is indicated in cases where the intracochlear behavior of the electrode array cannot be predicted, a condition encountered when implanting new electrode designs, cases with severely malformed inner ears, or cases of severe intraluminal obstruction requiring a double-array insertion.

Fibrous dysplasia is a slowly progressive benign fibro-osseous disorder that involves one or multiple bones with a unilateral distribution in most cases. It is a lesion of unknown etiology, uncertain pathogenesis, and diverse histopathology. Temporal bone involvement is the least frequently reported type, especially in children. We reviewed available articles regarding fibrous dysplasia with temporal bone involvement in children and added four patients aged 7 to 17 years who were diagnosed and treated in our institution from 2006 to 2017. The patients’ clinical picture comprised head deformity, external canal stenosis, headache, progressive conductive and/or sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, and sudden deafness. Two patients had experienced severe episodic vertigo with nausea and vomiting. Two were referred to us with external canal obstruction and secondary cholesteatoma formation with broad middle ear destruction. One was diagnosed with acute mastoiditis and intracranial complications. Optimal management of fibrous dysplasia is unclear and can be challenging, especially in children. In our two patients with disease expansion and involvement of important structures, surgical treatment was abandoned and a “wait-and-scan” policy was applied. The other two were qualified for surgical treatment. One patient underwent two surgeries: modified lateral petrosectomy (canal left open) with pathological tissue removal, cavity obliteration, and subsequent tympanoplasty. Another patient with extensive destruction of the left temporal bone underwent canal wall down mastoidectomy with perisinus abscess drainage and revision 12 months later. Tympanoplasty was unsatisfactory in both patients because of slow progression of the middle ear pathology. None of our patients underwent pharmacological treatment. In younger patients, observation and a “wait-and-scan” protocol is relevant until significant function, or cosmetic deficits are obvious. Surgery is not preferred and should be delayed until puberty because fibrous dysplasia has a tendency to stabilize after adolescence. In patients with severe symptoms medical treatment can be implemented, but safety of this treatment in children remain controversial.

Acute mastoiditis remains the most common complication of acute otitis media. It may rarely appear also in cochlear implant patients. However, the treatment recommendations for this disease are not precisely defined or employed, and in the current literature the differences regarding both the diagnosis and management are relatively substantial. The aim of this study was to determine a standard and safe procedure to be applied in case of pediatric acute mastoiditis. A retrospective chart review of 73 patients with 83 episodes of acute mastoiditis hospitalized at our tertiary-care center between 2001 and 2016 was conducted. Bacteriology, methods of treatment, hospital course, complications, and otologic history were analyzed. Based on our experience and literature data, a protocol was established in order to standardize management of pediatric acute mastoiditis. All the patients treated for acute mastoiditis were submitted to an intravenous antibiotic regimen. In the analyzed group pharmacological treatment only was applied in 11% of children, in 12% myringotomy/tympanostomy was added, and in the vast majority of patients (77%) mastoidectomy was performed. In our study recurrent mastoiditis was noted in 8% of the patients. We also experienced acute mastoiditis in a cochlear implant child, and in this case, a minimal surgical procedure, in order to protect the device, was recommended. The main points of the management protocol are: initiate a broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotic treatment; mastoidectomy should be performed if the infection fails to be controlled after 48h of administering intravenous antibiotic therapy. We believe that early mastoidectomy prevents serious complications, and our initial observation is that by performing broad mastoidectomy with posterior attic and facial recess exposure, recurrence of acute mastoiditis can be prevented.

To present the results and experience with diagnosis and treatment of lateral sinus thrombosis, as a complication of otitis media, in a pediatric population. Five children, 2 girls and 3 boys, with age ranging from 3 to 9 years, identified as having otogenic lateral sinus thrombosis confirmed with clinical symptoms and radiologic findings. All patients underwent canal wall intact mastoidectomy with tympanostomic tube insertion. In all patients, granulation tissues from mastoids were removed and exploration of the lateral sinuses by needle aspiration was performed. All patients were treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics, and 4 of 5 patients were administered anticoagulants. Clinical improvement, resolution of symptoms. Patients with a diagnosis of otogenic lateral sinus thrombosis commonly presented with headache, nausea, and vomiting. Three patients had a bulging drum, 1 had otorrhea, and 1 had only retraction pocket. After surgery and pharmacologic treatment, clinical improvement was observed in all patients. Complication after anticoagulant administration was not observed. All patients were followed up from 12 to 36 months. All patients showed partial or complete recanalization on repeat imaging. Lateral sinus thrombosis is a rare complication of otitis media. In some cases, diagnosis is delayed because neurologic, rather than otologic, symptoms may dominate the presentation of the lateral sinus thrombosis. In our observation, the prognosis of lateral sinus thrombosis is better when surgical and pharmacologic treatments are instituted early.