Late Sudden Deafness in Unoperated Ear of Patients with Otospongiosis: Case Studies
Alexandre Caixeta Guimaraes
Ear, Nose, Throat, Head and Neck Surgery Department, University of Campinas, Brazil.
Thiago Messias Zago *
Ear, Nose, Throat, Head and Neck Surgery Department, University of Campinas, Brazil.
Guilherme Machado de Carvalho
Ear, Nose, Throat, Head and Neck Surgery Department, University of Campinas, Brazil.
Fernando Laffitte Fernandes
Ear, Nose, Throat, Head and Neck Surgery Department, University of Campinas, Brazil.
Jorge Rizzato Paschoal
Ear, Nose, Throat, Head and Neck Surgery Department, University of Campinas, Brazil.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: It is not known whether there is etiological relationship between otospongiosis and sudden deafness. The most common etiologies that explain sudden deafness are viral infections, vascular and autoimmune process.
Methods: Two cases of patients with otospongiosis that have developed sudden deafness are presented.
Results-Case report: We report two cases of late sudden deafness in the unoperated ear of patients with otospongiosis. Both patients underwent previous surgical treatment in the contralateral ear with a a short period of hearing improvement and poor hearing outcome some days after. In both reported cases the patients with bilateral otospongiosis had sudden deafness affecting both ears. The first episodes had the onsets postoperatively at the operated ears. The second episodes were at the contralateral ears in the late follow-up, especially considering that in both cases the patients showed satisfactory results regarding hearing improvement postoperatively although temporarily we therefore question the existence of the association between otospongiosis and sudden deafness.
Discussion: Sudden deafness in patients with otospongiosis is a rare occurrence and because of the few cases reported, it is not possible to establish any relationship. Maybe there is a possible immunological cause for the association of otosclerosis and sudden deafness.
Conclusion: The association between sudden deafness and otosclerosis can be considered.
Keywords: Otospongiosis, otosclerosis, stapedotomy, stapes surgery, sudden hearing loss.