A third window of the posterior semicircular canal: An animal model

Ben I. Nageris, Joseph Attias, Rafi Shemesh, Tuvia Hadar, Michal Preis*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objectives/Hypothesis: A third window in the vestibular apparatus has been investigated in both animals and humans, specifically in superior semicircular canal dehiscence. There are as yet no animal model studies of the effect of a third vestibular window of the posterior semicircular canal. Study Design: Original basic research study. Methods: A fenestration was drilled in the bony labyrinth over the posterior semicircular canal, preserving the membranous labyrinth, in seven healthy, 6-month-old, fat sand rats (total 10 ears). Auditory brain stem responses to low- and high-frequency acoustic stimuli delivered by air conduction and bone conduction were recorded before and after fenestration. Results: On the preoperative auditory brainstem recordings, air-conduction thresholds to clicks and tone bursts averaged, respectively, 6.5 dB and 7.5 dB, and bone-conduction thresholds, 8 dB and 4.5 dB. Postoperatively, air-conduction thresholds averaged 14.5 dB, and bone-conduction thresholds 10.5 dB and 5 dB. The change in air-conduction thresholds was statistically significant (P < .01), whereas the bone conduction thresholds remained unchanged. Conclusions: A vestibular third window in the posterior semicircular canal decreases the sensitivity to air-conducted sound stimuli, raising the air-conduction threshold. There is no change in the bone-conduction threshold. These findings agree with the theoretical model and clinical findings.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1034-1037
Number of pages4
JournalLaryngoscope
Volume120
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2010

Keywords

  • Animal model
  • Posterior canal dehiscence
  • Third window
  • Vestibular window

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'A third window of the posterior semicircular canal: An animal model'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this