Preoperative prediction of stapes exposure during otomicrosurgery based
on temporal bone computed tomography images:A cohort observational
study
Abstract
Introduction: This prospective study aimed to evaluate the
predictive value of high-resolution computed tomography (CT) scan of the
temporal bone in predicting the degree of difficulty of stapes exposure
during otomicrosurgery. Methods: Twenty-seven patients with
chronic otitis media and conductive or mixed deafness who were scheduled
to undergo otomicrosurgery were included in the study. The width of the
external auditory canal bone, the stapes to the cone bulge, as well as
the stapes to the tympanic sinus distance were measured to indicate
stapes exposure difficulty, which was confirmed during operation and
divided into hard-to-expose and easily-exposed groups. The differences
between the groups were compared; statistically significant parameters
were included in the logistic regression model. Statistical significance
was set at P<0.05. Results: Coronary and
horizontal CT measurements of the stapes to cone bulge distance were
statistically significant between the two groups (
P<0.05 and P<0.01, respectively). The
CT measurements of the stapes to tympanic sinus and the width of the
external auditory canal bone were also statistically significant between
the two groups ( P<0.05). Multivariate logistic
regression analysis revealed that the bulge distance could be used as an
independent predictor of the difficulty of stapes exposure.
Conclusion: Preoperative high-resolution CT scans in the
coronal and horizontal planes of the stapes to the cone ridge can
provide a reference in predicting the difficulty of stapes exposure
during otomicrosurgery and deserve further attention.