Triple semicircular canal plugging: a novel modality for the treatment of intractable Meniere's disease

Conclusions: TSCP, which can reduce vertiginous symptoms in patients with intractable MD, represents an effective therapy for this disorder.

Objective: To explore the long-term efficacy of triple semicircular canal plugging (TSCP) in the treatment of intractable Meniere's disease (MD).

Methods: Seventy-nine patients diagnosed with unilateral MD referred to a vertigo clinic of the hospital between December 2010 and December 2013 were included in this study for retrospective analysis. TSCP was performed in the affected ear for each patient. Vertigo control and auditory function were measured. Pure tone audiometry, caloric test, and cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP) were performed in 2-year follow-up. Thirty-six MD patients, who accepted endolymphatic sac decompression (ESD) operation were selected as a comparison group.

Results: The total control rate of vertigo in the TSCP group was 98.7% in the 2-year follow-up, with a complete control rate of 81.0% and substantial control rate of 17.7%. The rate of hearing preservation was 70.9%. The total control rate of vertigo in the ESD operation group was 72.2%. The vertigo control rate of TSCP was significantly higher than that of ESD operation. Twenty-four months after treatment, canal paresis was found in the operation side of all patients of TSCP by means of caloric test.