Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33810814›Full record

ArticleJournal of otolaryngology - head & neck surgery = Le Journal d'oto-rhino-laryngologie et de chirurgie cervico-faciale2021

Ultrasonic bone removal from the ossicular chain affects cochlear structure and function.

Jennifer M Siu, Jaina Negandhi, Robert V Harrison, Nikolaus E Wolter, Adrian James

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of otolaryngology - head & neck surgery = Le Journal d'oto-rhino-laryngologie et de chirurgie cervico-faciale, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
0.6field-weighted citation impact, top 35% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 4 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Preserving the Membranous Labyrinth With a Piezoelectric Drill? Exploring Potential for Semicircular Canal Surgery.Otology & neurotology : official publication of the American Otological Society, American Neurotology Society [and] European Academy of Otology and Neurotology · 2026
    Article
  2. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

Jennifer M SiuDepartment of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
Jaina NegandhiProgram in Neuroscience and Mental Health, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.
Robert V HarrisonDepartment of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
Nikolaus E WolterDepartment of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
Adrian JamesDepartment of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. adr.james@utoronto.ca.
University of Toronto · CAHospital for Sick Children · CASickKids Foundation · CA

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionUltrasonic bone removal devices (UBD) are capable of cutting through bony tissue without injury to adjacent soft tissue. The feasibility and safety of using this technology for removal of bone from an intact ossicular chain (as might be required for otosclerosis or congenital fixation) was investigated in an animal model.

methodsThis was a prospective animal study conducted on seven anesthetised adult chinchillas. An UBD was used to remove bone from the malleus head in situ. Pre and post-operative distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) levels and auditory brainstem response (ABR) thresholds were recorded. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to assess cochlear haircell integrity.

resultsPrecise removal of a small quantity of bone from the malleus head was achieved by a 30s application of UBD without disruption of the ossicular chain or tympanic membrane. DPOAEs became undetectable after the intervention with signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) < 5 dB SPL in all ears. Furthermore, ABR thresholds were elevated > 85 dB SPL in 13 ears. SEM showed significant disruption of structural integrity of the organ of Corti, specifically loss and damage of outer haircells.

conclusionsAlthough UBD can be used to reshape an ossicle without middle ear injury, prolonged contact with the ossicular chain can cause structural and functional injury to the cochlea. Extensive cochlea pathology was found, but we did not investigate for recovery from any temporary threshold shift. In the authors' opinion, further study should be undertaken before consideration is given to use of the device for release of ossicular fixation.

Indexed as

AnimalsChinchillaCochleaEar OssiclesEvoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain StemMicroscopy, Electron, ScanningModels, AnimalOtoacoustic Emissions, SpontaneousOtosclerosisProspective StudiesUltrasonic Surgical ProceduresPiezosurgerySafetyUltrasonic bone removal

Identifiers

PMID33810814
PMCPMC8017701
OpenAlexW3151044777

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.