Superior Semicircular Canal Dehiscence Outcomes in a Consecutive Series of 229 Surgical Repairs With Middle Cranial Fossa Craniotomy

Abstract

Superior semicircular canal dehiscence (SSCD) is the appearance of a third mobile window between the middle fossa and the superior semicircular canal. Surgical management is indicated in patients with persistent and debilitating symptoms. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between preoperative variables that may impact postoperative symptomatic resolution. A single-institution retrospective analysis was performed on patients who were surgically treated for SSCD. Patients were divided to different cohorts based on unilateral or bilateral nature of the disease. A P value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. A total of 229 surgical repairs were analyzed. Mean age was 51 years (± 7.8 years), and 55.9% of patients were female. All cohorts were similar with respect to baseline demographics. The most commonly reported preoperative symptoms were tinnitus, dizziness, and autophony. The greatest symptomatic resolution was seen in autophony, internal sound amplification, hyperacusis, and oscillopsia. The unilateral SSCD cohort had significantly higher improvement of autophony (P= 0.003), aural fullness (P= 0.05), tinnitus (P= 0.006), hearing loss (P=0.02), dizziness (P= 0.006), and headache (P= 0.007), compared with the bilateral SSCD cohorts. Among patients with bilateral disease, those with unilateral surgery reported greater symptomatic resolution with respect to hyperacusis (P= 0.03), hearing loss (P= 0.02), dizziness (P= 0.03), and disequilibrium (P < 0.001), than those with bilateral operations. Surgical management of SSCD leads to high rates of postoperative symptomatic improvement. Patients with unilateral SSCD benefit greater symptomatic resolution compared to those with bilateral pathology.