Beschreibung:
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<jats:title>Hypothesis:</jats:title>
<jats:p>The choice of the material for plugging a dehiscence of the superior semicircular canal is based on the ease of use and the success of the procedure to permanently relieve symptoms without adverse side effects.</jats:p>
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<jats:title>Background:</jats:title>
<jats:p>Dehiscence of the superior semicircular canal can lead to autophony, conductive hearing loss, and vertigo. Surgical treatment by plugging the canal is a highly effective treatment of the symptoms in many patients, although, the procedure can be associated with some degree of hearing loss in more than or equal to 25% of the patients. The available data indicate that adverse effects may be more frequently observed with bone wax as compared with other materials.</jats:p>
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<jats:title>Methods:</jats:title>
<jats:p>In the present study we compare the tissue reactions induced by plugging the superior semicircular canal with autologous bone pate/bone chips, muscle, fat, artificial bone wax, and teflon in the gerbil model in an attempt to identify the material leading to successful plugging with the least adverse tissue reactions.</jats:p>
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<jats:title>Results:</jats:title>
<jats:p>Our data show that successful plugging was achieved in 100% of the ears by bone pate/bone chips, teflon, and bone wax while the success rate was significantly lower (<50%) following muscle and fat. The proportion of adverse tissue reactions was significantly more pronounced using bone wax as compared with teflon and bone pate/bone chips.</jats:p>
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<jats:title>Conclusion:</jats:title>
<jats:p>The use of teflon or autologous bone as a material for plugging a dehiscent superior semicircular canal should be favored over bone wax, muscle, and fat.</jats:p>
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