Experience with the vibrant soundbridge RW-coupler for round window vibroplasty with tympanosclerosis

Abstract

Usage of the Vibrant Soundbridge (VSB) with round window (RW)-Coupler placement at the RW has been shown to successfully treat mixed hearing loss. Coupling between the VSB's floating mass transducer (FMT) and the RW membrane is difficult in the case of sclerosis in the RW and drilling down the bony lip until the RW membrane can be seen completely can possibly induce a perilymphatic fistula. A 68-year-old woman who had bilateral mixed hearing loss with sclerosis in the RW due to tympanosclerosis underwent a RW-Vibroplasty with a RW-Coupler. Speech discrimination scores in quiet and noise and functional gain with the VSB with RW-Coupler were better than those using a conventional hearing aid. The results of the present case have shown the feasibility of implanting a VSB with RW-Coupler in patients with mixed hearing loss due to tympanosclerosis. © 2012 Informa Healthcare.