Lateral semicircular canal fenestration for congenital conductive hearing loss: Solution for a dilemma.

OBJECTIVE To determine functional results after lateral semicircular canal fenestration on congenital conductive hearing loss. STUDY DESIGN Case series with chart review. SETTING Amir-Alam otolaryngology tertiary referral center. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Twenty patients with congenital oval window malformations who were not candidates for ossicular reconstruction underwent lateral semicircular canal fenestration. A skin graft was placed over the perforated fascial graft on the fenestrated area. RESULTS The median preoperative mean air conduction (MAC) was 56.9 dB (50.0 dB median air-bone). Postoperative median MAC gain of 34.3 dB (P < 0.001) and the median air-bone gap of 18.8 dB were observed. The mean bone conduction (MBC) did not show any significant changes postoperatively (P = 0.12). No sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, or imbalance was observed. CONCLUSION We demonstrated hearing improvement after lateral semicircular canal fenestration. This technique can be considered as an alternative for patients with middle ear anomalies who are not candidates for ossicular reconstruction.