Otology & Neurotology最新文献

{"title":"Evaluating the Cost-Effectiveness of Unilateral Cochlear Implants Versus Hearing Aids in Older Adults in Japan.","authors":"Norie Imagawa, Shuji Izumi, Takashi Shimazaki, Takashi Yamauchi, Shunya Ikeda, Shinichi Noto, Hiromi Kojima, Machi Suka","doi":"10.1097/MAO.0000000000004504","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/MAO.0000000000004504","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of cochlear implants in older adults with hearing impairment 65 years or older in Japan. In addition, this study aimed to establish a basis for making recommendations for cochlear implants in clinical practice for suitable patients.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>We conducted a cost-utility analysis using the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) to compare unilateral cochlear implants with hearing aids. The study involved participants 65 years or older with severe-to-profound hearing loss attending two cochlear implant surgery facilities in Japan. Costs were calculated from the participants' receipt data and standard clinical paths from medical care providers. Quality-adjusted life years (QALY) were assessed by patients using the Japanese version of the Health Utilities Index Mark 3 and by medical care providers using the visual analog scale (VAS). In addition, sensitivity analyses were performed by varying the utility value, discount rate, age at implantation, and costs to estimate the ICER under different scenarios.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Responses were received from 26 cochlear implant users and 8 hearing aid users. After applying the survival and discount rates to the utility values and costs, the ICER was $44,533, which falls within the acceptable willingness-to-pay threshold in Japan. Sensitivity analysis showed that the ICER was the most sensitive to the utility value, followed by the discount rate.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The findings indicate that providing cochlear implants to older adults with hearing impairment is not only beneficial in terms of improved hearing performance but also economically efficient.</p>","PeriodicalId":19732,"journal":{"name":"Otology & Neurotology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143753425","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluating Learning Curves in Virtual Reality Cortical Mastoidectomy Training Across Expertise Levels.","authors":"Jesslyn Clarance Lamtara, Sudanthi Wijewickrema, Jean-Marc Gerard, Stephen O'Leary","doi":"10.1097/MAO.0000000000004500","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/MAO.0000000000004500","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Hypothesis: </strong>Virtual reality (VR) simulation has been established as an effective method of supplementing traditional surgical training. Learning curves can analyze skill acquisition over time in VR settings. Although previous studies explored learning curves of mastoidectomy performances on single specimen, this study analyzed learning curves on anatomically different virtual temporal bones across three expertise levels (novice, intermediate, and expert).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Thirty participants were divided into three groups: 10 medical students (novice), 10 ear, nose and throat (ENT) registrars (intermediate), and 10 senior ear surgeons (expert). They performed mastoidectomy on eight anatomically different temporal bones on the University of Melbourne Temporal Bone Surgery Simulator. A blinded senior ENT surgeon assessed the final products of the dissections using the Melbourne Mastoidectomy Scale (MMS). Learning curves of MMS scores, number of strokes, average force, drilling time, and total time were compared between groups using Friedman tests. Within-group analyses were conducted with Wilcoxon signed-rank tests.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>All performance metrics showed significant differences across all groups. Only comparison between intermediate and expert groups for average force was not significant. Within-group analyses showed significant differences in expert group for total and drilling time, intermediate group for average force, and novice group for total time. Individual learning curves of intermediate group demonstrated varied learning behavior.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Trainee performance was not seen to reach the level of experts after eight repetitions on anatomically different specimens. Enhancing training with individualized feedback and increased repetitions may optimize skills acquisition.</p>","PeriodicalId":19732,"journal":{"name":"Otology & Neurotology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143753983","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Endoscopic Approach for Tympanostomy Tube Insertion in Patients With Trisomy 21.","authors":"Danielle R Larrow, Michael S Cohen","doi":"10.1097/MAO.0000000000004479","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/MAO.0000000000004479","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Abstract: </strong>Otitis media with effusion (OME) is common in children with Down syndrome (DS), affecting 93% of children by age 1 year and 68% of children by age 8 years (1,2). Resultant conductive hearing loss is present in up to 80% of children with DS and OME, making prompt treatment imperative to prevent adverse effects on language and development (2-4). Placement of tympanostomy tubes is common treatment for chronic OME with associated conductive hearing loss. However, tympanostomy tube insertion can be challenging in the DS population due to stenotic external auditory canals, a morphologically defining characteristic of DS seen in 40 to 50% of individuals (4). Adequate visualization is paramount not only for safe tympanostomy tube placement but also to allow for surveillance for retraction pockets, atelectasis, and cholesteatoma. Here, we demonstrate how the use of an endoscope can improve visualization and aid in difficult tube placement in this patient population.</p>","PeriodicalId":19732,"journal":{"name":"Otology & Neurotology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143753977","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Post-Cochlear Implant Vestibular Dysfunction: Round Window Versus Standard Cochleostomy Approaches.","authors":"Abdullah F Alharbi, Hassan Alalawi, Abdulsalam Alqutub, Hisham B Alem, Afnan F Bukhari, Manal A Khoja, Faisal Zawawi","doi":"10.1097/MAO.0000000000004489","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/MAO.0000000000004489","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Two main techniques for cochlear implantation (CI) are commonly used: the standard cochleostomy (SCA) and the round window approach (RWA). Initially, the RWA was more utilized, followed by the SCA for cases with challenging visualization. Recent studies show that RWA is preferred due to SCA's risk of damaging cochlear structures.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>We aim to compare post-CI complications between the RWA and SCA approaches.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Five electronic databases were systematically searched to identify relevant studies. Eligibility screening was performed to determine inclusion criteria, and data extraction from the selected studies was conducted independently. Dichotomous outcomes were pooled as rate ratios (RR) and standard errors (SE), with significance determined by a p value >0.05 between CI subgroups. The generic inverse variance analysis method was applied with the employment of the random-effect model.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Our systematic review encompassed 82 studies, of which 58 were eligible for meta-analysis. Vertigo was documented in 10% of instances utilizing the RWA technique and in 8% of cases using the SCA method. Likewise, dizziness was noted in 18% of RWA cases and in 14% of SCA cases. The overall incidence of vestibular complications was 36% for RWA and 17% for SCA. However, statistical analysis revealed no significant differences between these approaches (p < 0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Both the RWA and the SCA approaches demonstrate comparable post-CI complication profiles concerning dizziness, vertigo, and overall vestibular complications, with the RWA approach showing slightly higher incidences. However, no significant difference was found between the two techniques.</p>","PeriodicalId":19732,"journal":{"name":"Otology & Neurotology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143753954","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prospective Symptom Changes in Sporadic Vestibular Schwannoma: A Comparison of Observation, Microsurgery, and Radiosurgery.","authors":"Karl R Khandalavala, Christine M Lohse, Nicole M Tombers, Michael J Link, Matthew L Carlson","doi":"10.1097/MAO.0000000000004495","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/MAO.0000000000004495","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To compare differences in sporadic vestibular schwannoma (VS)-associated patient-reported symptom scores among patients receiving observation, microsurgery, or radiosurgery.</p><p><strong>Study design: </strong>Prospective longitudinal survey.</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong>Tertiary referral center and the national Acoustic Neuroma Association.</p><p><strong>Patients: </strong>Adults with sporadic VS.</p><p><strong>Intervention: </strong>Observation, microsurgery, or radiosurgery.</p><p><strong>Main outcome measure: </strong>Baseline and follow-up surveys on patient-reported severity of tinnitus, dizziness/imbalance, and headaches scored on a 10-point numeric scale, with higher scores indicating more severe symptoms; changes of 2 or more points from baseline were considered clinically important.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 455 patients were eligible for study with a mean (SD) follow-up of 4.5 (2.4) years, including 122 (27%) managed with observation, 226 (50%) undergoing microsurgery, and 107 (23%) undergoing radiosurgery. Changes in tinnitus severity scores differed significantly among management groups (p = 0.006), with severity scores increasing significantly in the radiosurgery (+0.8, p = 0.005) group but not in the observation (+0.2, p = 0.5) or microsurgery (-0.2, p = 0.18) groups. The changes in dizziness/imbalance and headache severity scores did not differ significantly among management groups. When comparing clinically important improvements (decrease of 2 or more points), the microsurgery and observation cohorts had a greater proportion of patients experiencing a clinically important improvement in tinnitus compared with the radiosurgery cohort; no other clinically important changes were significantly different among management groups.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>In this prospective study of 455 patients comparing patient-reported symptoms after VS management, radiosurgery was associated with worsening tinnitus severity scores overall and resulted in fewer patients reporting clinically important improvements in tinnitus compared with observation and microsurgery. As there was substantial variability in the effect of management modality on changes in symptom severity scores, possible treatment effects on subjective symptoms, including tinnitus, dizziness/imbalance, and headache, should not be used in isolation to inform clinical decision-making for management of sporadic VS.</p>","PeriodicalId":19732,"journal":{"name":"Otology & Neurotology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143753372","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evidence Showing Three Layers of Reconstructed Tympanic Membrane After Second Regenerative Treatment.","authors":"Hiroshi Hidaka, Tomofumi Sakagami, Yuri Noda, Akihiro Shimamura, Hiroshi Iwai","doi":"10.1097/MAO.0000000000004421","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/MAO.0000000000004421","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To describe the case of a patient who twice underwent recently developed regenerative treatment for tympanic membrane perforation (RT-TMP), achieving successful regeneration of the TM consisting of three layers (epidermis, lamina propria, and mucosa) on pathological analyses of the regenerated part.</p><p><strong>Study design: </strong>Clinical capsule report.</p><p><strong>Patient: </strong>A 48-year-old woman with right chronic otitis media, showing a large TMP covering 80% of the total TM.</p><p><strong>Interventions: </strong>After the initial RT-TMP, the patient had a residual posterior TMP affecting 25% of the TM. At the second procedure, a portion of the previously regenerated TM was harvested for pathological analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Pathological analysis of the surgical specimen showed that the regenerated TM tissue coandnsisted of three parts: outer epidermal, intermediate, and mucosal layers.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>By applying a recently developed RT-TMP, this report describes the first human study confirming the regeneration of the TM consisting of three layers (epidermis, lamina propria, and mucosa) on pathological analyses of the regenerated part at the second RT-TMP. This is a major step toward the goal of TM regeneration that recapitulates the structural properties of the native TM.</p>","PeriodicalId":19732,"journal":{"name":"Otology & Neurotology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143753368","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Endoscopic Malleostapedotomy in Primary Stapes Surgery: Preliminary Results.","authors":"Zixuan Zhao, Yuqi Zhang, Xinyi Xue, Yuqi Feng, Margaret Sibeso Kamuwanga, Xi Wang, Xiaoyong Ren, Baojun Wu, Yang Li","doi":"10.1097/MAO.0000000000004499","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/MAO.0000000000004499","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To describe the surgical steps in endoscopic malleostapedotomy as a primary intervention and to evaluate the audiologic and surgical outcomes.</p><p><strong>Study design: </strong>Clinical capsule report.</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong>University hospital.</p><p><strong>Patients: </strong>Fourteen patients (10 males and 4 females) who underwent endoscopic malleostapedotomy as a primary intervention between April 2017 and July 2023 were enrolled in this study. Demographic data, surgical information, preoperative and postoperative pure-tone averages and air bone gaps, intraoperative and postoperative complications, and follow-up data were summarized and gathered in a database for further consideration and analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>During endoscopic ear surgery, congenital ossicular chain malformation was present in 13 cases and tympanosclerosis in 1 case. The postoperative air-bone gap improved significantly compared with the preoperative gap (18.4 versus 47.4 dB HL, respectively), and the mean air-bone gap closure was 29 dB HL. In 14% of cases, the observed postoperative air-bone gap was less than 10 dB HL, and in 64%, it was between 11 and 20 dB HL. An ABG closure lower than 20 dB HL was achieved in a total of 78% of patients. There was no sensorineural hearing loss or persistent vertigo in the study sample. Two cases of prosthesis too short or prosthesis extrusion occurred after a mean follow-up of 16.9 months.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Endoscopic malleostapedotomy as a primary intervention is a safe and reliable procedure and is a technique of choice in selected cases of stapes fixation with incus anomaly.</p>","PeriodicalId":19732,"journal":{"name":"Otology & Neurotology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143753981","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Pilot Cadaveric Investigation Recommending the Lesser Petrosal Nerve as an Anatomical Landmark for Middle Fossa Approaches.","authors":"Derya Ümit Talas, Orhan Beger, Onurhan Güven, Pourya Taghipour, Mesut Yeşilova, Deniz Uzmansel, Yusuf Vayısoğlu","doi":"10.1097/MAO.0000000000004497","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/MAO.0000000000004497","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Ambiguity of certain reference points like the arcuate eminence and facial hiatus while approaching the middle fossa is not to be underestimated. This investigation proposes the use of the lesser petrosal nerve (LPN) as a novel landmark from which to determine the precise localization of the superior semicircular canal and internal acoustic canal.</p><p><strong>Subjects: </strong>Twelve adult cadavers (6 males and 6 females) aged 70.70 ± 15.10 years (range: 40-90 yr).</p><p><strong>Intervention: </strong>This clinical capsule covers the dissection report of 24 temporal bones.</p><p><strong>Main outcome measures: </strong>The numerical relationship of LPN to adjacent structures at the skull base was determined for middle fossa approaches.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The angles of LPN with the internal acoustic canal, greater superficial petrosal nerve, and superior semicircular canal were found to be 77.58 ± 12.78°, 7.43 ± 3.73°, and 112.01 ± 10.06°, respectively. The distance from the most posterior part of LPN to the head of the malleus was measured as 4.82 ± 1.58 mm.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>If the most posterior part of the groove for LPN is traced posteriorly for approximately 5 mm, the head of the malleus is reached by opening the tegmen tympani. Taking the medial margin of the head of the malleus as reference, a surgeon may find the superior semicircular canal, by following it along 110° posterior to the long axis of LPN. In addition, the surgeon may detect the internal acoustic canal, by tracing it along 78° posterior to the long axis of LPN. Our strategy is based on the initial identification of LPN and then access to SSC and IAC by forming a surgical map through LPN.</p>","PeriodicalId":19732,"journal":{"name":"Otology & Neurotology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143753949","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Deafness Progressing to Cochlear Implant Eligibility Is Eight Times More Likely in the Hypoplastic Than the Degenerative Endotype of Menière's Disease.","authors":"Catrin Brühlmann, Jennifer L Spiegel, Agnes Mühle, Adrian Dalbert, Vincent Y W Lin, Trung N Le, Thore Schade-Mann, Jessica Knoppik, Dorothe Veraguth, Christof Röösli, Alexander Huber, Julia Dlugaiczyk, Steven D Rauch, Hubert Löwenheim, Joseph M Chen, Amy F Juliano, Andreas H Eckhard, David Bächinger","doi":"10.1097/MAO.0000000000004482","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/MAO.0000000000004482","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To investigate whether one of the two recently described MD endotypes-defined by either endolymphatic sac degeneration (MD-dg patients) or hypoplasia (MD-hp patients)-is associated with an increased likelihood of undergoing CI.</p><p><strong>Study design: </strong>Retrospective multicenter cross-sectional study.</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong>Five tertiary referral centers.</p><p><strong>Patients: </strong>CI cohort: 115 adult MD patients with a history of uni- or bilateral CI. Non-CI cohort: 72 MD patients with no CI history. All included patients matched current diagnostic criteria for definite MD.</p><p><strong>Intervention: </strong>Cochlear implantation.</p><p><strong>Main outcome measures: </strong>Endotype distribution (MD-dg versus MD-hp) between the CI cohort and the non-CI cohort. The endotype was determined using high-resolution CT data based on the angular trajectory of the vestibular aqueduct, following established protocols. Secondary outcomes included disease laterality, age at MD diagnosis, duration of MD, and pre-CI hearing thresholds.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The CI cohort included significantly more MD-hp patients than the non-CI cohort (72% versus 24%, p < 0.0001). The odds ratio of CI for an MD-hp patient relative to an MD-dg patient was 8.4 (95% confidence interval, 4.3-16.1). Pre-CI audiometric data showed no significant differences in hearing thresholds between endotypes, neither in the implanted nor in the non-implanted ear.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The MD-hp endotype, frequently associated with bilateral disease and early-age disease onset, is strongly linked to a higher likelihood of CI. Endotyping of MD patients based on endolymphatic sac pathology can effectively stratify their risk of severe hearing loss, guiding personalized audiological follow-up and clinical decisions regarding potential CI.</p>","PeriodicalId":19732,"journal":{"name":"Otology & Neurotology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143753969","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Changes in the Incidence of Pediatric Otitis Media Pre- and Post-COVID-19 Pandemic in South Korea: A Study Utilizing a HIRA-Customized Cohort for the Population Aged ≤18 Years.","authors":"Taeung Eom, Byungjun Jeong, Seok-Hyun Kim, Sung-Won Choi, Se-Joon Oh, Soo-Keun Kong, Il-Woo Lee, Hyun Min Lee","doi":"10.1097/MAO.0000000000004490","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/MAO.0000000000004490","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To investigate the changes in the incidence of otitis media and ventilation tube insertion (VTI) rates among South Koreans aged ≤18 years since the COVID-19 pandemic and analyze the impact of social distancing and increased personal hygiene.</p><p><strong>Study design: </strong>A retrospective cohort study utilizing health insurance claim data.</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong>Healthcare facilities across South Korea.</p><p><strong>Patients: </strong>Individuals aged ≤18 years diagnosed with acute suppurative otitis media (AOM), chronic serous otitis media (SOM), or acute mastoiditis (AM).</p><p><strong>Intervention: </strong>Diagnostic and therapeutic interventions, including VTI procedures.</p><p><strong>Main outcome measure: </strong>Changes in the monthly average number of patients and episodes of AOM, SOM, and AM, and the number of VTI procedures, comparing pre-COVID-19 (2018-2019) to post-COVID-19 (January 2020-May 2021) periods.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The monthly average number of patients with AOM and number of episodes decreased by 56.6% and 62.9%, respectively (Estimate: 0.37 [95% CI: 0.30-0.46], p = 0.01) post-pandemic. SOM patients and episodes decreased by 58.2% and 61.2%, respectively (estimate, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.33-0.46; p = 0.01). AM patients and episodes decreased by 15.8% and 16.6%, respectively (estimate, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.69-1.00; p = 0.06). The monthly average number of VTI procedures for AOM and SOM also decreased significantly post-pandemic.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The COVID-19 pandemic led to a significant decrease in the incidence of otitis media and VTI surgeries in South Koreans aged ≤18 years. This decrease may be attributed to the implementation of social distancing measures and increased personal hygiene practices during the pandemic. These findings provide valuable insights for preventing and managing pediatric otitis media during future respiratory pandemics and similar public health emergencies.</p>","PeriodicalId":19732,"journal":{"name":"Otology & Neurotology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143753963","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}