Triple Semicircular Canal Plugging versus Labyrinthectomy for Meniere Disease: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

Objectives: The study goals were to compare the long-term efficacy of semicircular canal plugging (SCP) with labyrinthectomy in the treatment of advanced Meniere's disease (MD). Study Design: A retrospective study. Setting: Single tertiary medical center. Methods: A total of 116 MD patients (TSCP group of 90; labyrinthectomy group of 26) with complete medical documents in Shandong Provincial ENT Hospital, from March 2017 to March 2019 were retrospectively analyzed, including a battery of auditory and vestibular function tests, recovery time from imbalance and function level scores (FLS). Results: The total control rate of vertigo in the TSCP group was 96.7% (87/90). The rate of hearing loss was 23.3% (21/90). The control rate of vertigo in the labyrinthectomy group was 100% (26/26). All patients lost their auditory function after labyrinthectomy with a 100% hearing loss rate. There was no significant difference in the vertigo control rate between the two groups (P > 0.05). The hearing loss rate in the TSCP group was significantly lower than that in the labyrinthectomy group (P < 0.00). The median time recovered from imbalance was 15 days in TSCP group and 21 days in labyrinthectomy group, which is significantly different (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the FLS between the two groups (P > 0.05). Conclusions: Compared to labyrinthectomy, TSCP can preserve hearing at a high probability; meanwhile, otolith organ function preservation benefits patients from faster vestibular compensation. Level of Evidence: 3 Laryngoscope, 133:3178–3184, 2023.