Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40729330›Full record

ArticlePloS one2025

A novel incision design for Vibrant SoundBridge®︎ implantation prior to auricular reconstruction for microtia.

Naohiro Ueda, Takatoshi Yotsuyanagi, Ken Yamashita, Hidekane Yoshimura, Yutaka Takumi, Masahiro Takahashi, Satoshi Iwasaki, Shunsuke Yuzuriha, Shin-Ichi Usami

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Article in PloS one, 2025. 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
–field-weighted citation impact
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.

  1. Review
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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

9 authors.

Naohiro UedaDepartment of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4840-3875
Takatoshi YotsuyanagiDepartment of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan.
Ken YamashitaDepartment of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan.
Hidekane YoshimuraDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan.
Yutaka TakumiDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan.
Masahiro TakahashiDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, International University of Health and Welfare Mita Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
Satoshi IwasakiDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, International University of Health and Welfare Mita Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
Shunsuke YuzurihaDepartment of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan.
Shin-Ichi UsamiDepartment of Hearing Implant Sciences, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThis study aimed to present and evaluate a surgical approach for placing a Vibrant Soundbridge® (VSB) device prior to auricular reconstruction in patients with microtia atresia. The goal was to determine whether an incision line for VSB implantation, located sufficiently posterior to the planned area of auricular reconstruction, could prevent interference with subsequent auricular surgeries and ensure stable hearing outcomes.

methodsWe retrospectively examined four patients with unilateral microtia who underwent VSB implantation before auricular reconstruction. The incision line was placed approximately 5 cm posterior to the posterior edge of the temporomandibular joint, ensuring that it remained at least 2 cm away from the future area of auricular reconstruction. The VSB implantation procedure involved skin incision, subperiosteal dissection, mastoidectomy, and placement of the VSB implant, with a floating mass transducer attached to the head of the stapes. More than a year later, two-stage auricular reconstruction was performed.

resultsAll patients underwent successful auricular reconstruction after VSB implantation. During the first stage of costal cartilage grafting, subcutaneous pockets were created without encountering congestion or compromised skin flaps, and the grafted cartilage maintained a good contour. In the second stage of auricular elevation, the mastoid fascial flap was elevated with adequate blood flow, and careful dissection prevented exposure or damage to the VSB device. Postoperatively, the reconstructed auricles exhibited stable contour. Audiometric evaluation revealed no deterioration in hearing outcomes, indicating that the VSB device worked well.

conclusionThis method allows safe and effective VSB implantation prior to auricular reconstruction, without hindering subsequent procedures. By maintaining an appropriate distance between the incision line and planned area of reconstruction, early hearing rehabilitation and successful auricular reconstruction can be achieved. This approach may serve as a practical standard for treating patients with microtia atresia who require early hearing intervention.

Indexed as

Congenital MicrotiaPlastic Surgery ProceduresAdolescentChildFemaleHumansMaleRetrospective StudiesTreatment Outcome

Identifiers

PMID40729330
PMCPMC12306728

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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.