Maintaining Cochlear Patency After VIIIth Nerve Surgery

NCT03261726 · Status: WITHDRAWN · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL

Last updated 2025-12-19

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Tumors arising from the VIIIth Nerve (vestibulo-cochlear nerve) typically present with progressive unilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. VIIIth Nerve tumors with documented growth on serial MRI scans typically lead to deafness in the affected ear over time. Radiation (Gamma Knife® or stereotactic radiosurgery) may preserve hearing in \~80% while surgery (middle cranial fossa or retrosigmoid approach) may preserve hearing in 16 - 40% of small tumors, although initial hearing preservation by both modalities may fail over time. Surgical resection via the translabyrinthine approach is the safest way to remove many of these tumors, but involves loss of all hearing. In all treatment modalities, the vascular supply (the labyrinthine artery, a terminal branch of AICA with no collaterals) to the cochlea is at risk. After devascularization, the cochlea frequently fills with fibrous tissue or ossifies (labyrinthitis ossificans), making it impossible to place a cochlear implant should it be required later. The incidence of this is 46% in our patients. This study seeks to determine the feasibility of preserving the cochlear duct with an obdurator so that patients undergoing translabyrinthine removal of VIIIth nerve tumors may retain the option of a cochlear implant at a later time.

Conditions

  • Acoustic Neuroma
  • Labyrinthitis Ossificans
  • Profound Hearing Impairment

Interventions

DEVICE

MedEl Test Electrode Placer

This study uses a sterile dummy (i.e., not working) cochlear implant electrode inserted at the time of tumor removal to keep the inner ear from scarring or filling with bone. The significance of this to you is that if you ever become eligible for a cochlear implant sometime after surgery, it may be possible to remove the dummy and insert a functioning cochlear implant.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Med-El Corporation

    collaborator INDUSTRY
  • Henry Ford Health System

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Eric W Sargent, MD · Ascension Providence Hospital

Study Design

Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Model
SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2017-08-04
Primary Completion
2021-03-04
Completion
2021-03-04
FDA Device
Yes

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT03261726 on ClinicalTrials.gov