Abstract
Objective: The present study aimed to determine the time course and frequency patterns of transient low-tone air-bone gaps (ABGs) after canal plugging for intractable BPPV.
Method: We investigated 8 patients with intractable BPPV who underwent canal plugging. Four cases had posterior semicircular canal type BPPV (pBPPV), and the other 4 had horizontal semicircular canal type BPPV (hBPPV). Pure-tone audiometries (PTAs) were performed before surgery and 7 days, 1 month, and 6 months after surgery.
Results: The ratio of the number of patients with ABGs (+) was 100.0% (8/8) on the 7th day and 1st month postoperatively, and it was 0.0% (0/8) in the 6th month postoperatively. There were no significant differences in the time course or frequency patterns of ABGs between pBPPV and hBPPV.
Conclusion: Our findings suggest that, during such a convalescence period, the plugged area might not be completely repaired yet and could still induce dizziness and low-tone ABGs, since enlarged vestibular aqueduct syndrome and superior semicircular canal deficiency syndrome exhibit low-tone ABGs because of a third mobile window into the inner ear.
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