Effects of Piezosurgery® on the cochlear outer hair cells

Abstract

Conclusions. The absence of audiologic side effects highlights the reduced trauma of the piezoelectric cut, demonstrates the superiority of the Piezosurgery® device in terms of safety and protection of anatomical structures and confirms its applicability in all the otologic techniques tested. Objectives. The aim of the present study was to estimate the effect of Piezosurgery® on the cochlea and in particular on the cochlear outer hair cells. Patients and methods. We selected 60 patients with a history of otologic surgery with Piezosurgery®. Before and 6 months after surgery, all the patients underwent the following instrumental examinations: pure-tone audiometry, tympanometry, transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs), distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) and auditory brainstem response (ABR). Results. Piezosurgery® showed its safety on the inner ear and in particular on the cochlear outer hair cells: for each instrumental examination (pure-tone audiometry, tympanometry, TEOAE, DPOAEs and ABR), no patients presented postoperative worsening.