Biomechanical analysis of the clinical characteristics of enlarged vestibular aqueduct syndrome with Mondini malformation.

BACKGROUND

numerous researches on the pathological mechanism of Enlarged Vestibular Aqueduct (EVA) syndrome mainly focuses on the genetic characteristics of SLC26A4 gene and the function of its encoding protein, Pendrin. One of the limitations with these explanations is that it does not explain why cerebrospinal fluid pressure can affect clinical manifestations.

OBJECTIVES

To establish a new approach to explain the clinical manifestations of EVA syndrome with biomechanical method.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

108 cases of EVA syndrome who received cochlear implantation were analyzed retrospectively. A cochlear model was built to reflect the differences of the structure in EVA syndrome with or without Mondini malformation. The CFD software was used to simulate and display the differences in mechanical pathogenic factors to which the model was subjected.

RESULTS

EVA syndrome patients with Mondini malformation suffer more mechanical damage from the cerebrospinal fluid pressure due to their structural reason and their symptoms appear earlier and progress faster.

CONCLUSIONS

Biomechanics is an important aspect of pathological mechanism of EVA syndrome, and it provides a new angle for clinical decision-making.