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Biomedical subjects

Stephen G Harner

Publications and source records attributed to Stephen G Harner.

2 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Patient choice in treatment of vestibular schwannoma.

OBJECTIVES: There are options available to patients newly diagnosed with vestibular schwannoma. Our institution employs stereotactic radiosurgery, microsurgical removal, and watchful waiting. There are no studies in the literature examining which of these treatment options patients are choosing. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Using retrospective chart review from January 2000 through December 2001, we noted several variables and patients' initial treatment choices. RESULTS: During the 24-month study period, 139 patients were seen at our institution with a new diagnosis of vestibular schwannoma and made a clear initial treatment choice. Of these, 32 (23%) patients elected watchful waiting; 51 (36%) underwent stereotactic radiosurgery, and 56 (40%) underwent surgical removal. Surgical excision correlated with younger age and larger tumor size. CONCLUSIONS: Our initial hypothesis, that patients choosing treatment would choose stereotactic radiosurgery more than 50% of the time, was untrue for the time course studied. SIGNIFICANCE: This is the first study to examine patient choice in treatment of vestibular schwannoma.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Ossicular reconstruction with titanium prosthesis.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the results when using titanium total ossicular replacement prosthesis (TORP) or partial ossicular replacement prosthesis (PORP) in chronic ear disease. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart review was performed. METHODS: Sixty-eight ossicular procedures using a titanium TORP (n = 30) or PORP (n = 38) were performed at a tertiary referral center between December 1999 and June 2002. The ossiculoplasty was performed either alone or in combination with other chronic ear surgery. Cartilage grafts were used universally. Nineteen percent were primary operations, and 6% were planned second stages. The majority were revision procedures. Follow-up ranged from 3 months to 2.5 years. RESULTS: The prosthesis is easy to insert, well tolerated, and has a low extrusion rate. Average air-bone gap (ABG) improvement was 13 dB with closure of the ABG to within 20 dB in 57% of cases. Hearing results were better for primary versus revision cases for PORPs versus TORPs and for intact canal wall (ICW) procedures versus canal wall-down (CWD) procedures. CONCLUSION: Titanium is a satisfactory material for use in ossicular reconstruction because of its ease of insertion, tissue tolerance, and low rate of extrusion. Caution is advised when selecting candidates for this procedure during revision surgery, especially if the canal wall and stapes superstructure are absent.

Adult↗