Triple semicircular canal occlusion as an alternative treatment for Tumarkin crisis in patients associated with Meniere's disease before labyrinthectomy or vestibular neurectomy.

BACKGROUND Triple Semicircular Canal Occlusion (TSCO) has been developed in recent years as a surgical method for treating Meniere's disease(MD).

AIMS/OBJECTIVES To explore the effectiveness of TSCO surgery in the treatment of patients with Tumarkin crisis associated with MD.

MATERIALS AND METHODS Clinical data of 7 patients with Tumarkin crisis secondary to unilateral MD were analyzed. All 7 patients with Tumarkin crisis were treated with TSCO surgery. Audiological and vestibular function assessment was performed.

RESULTS None of the 7 patients in the Tumarkin group experienced drop attacks after TSCO surgery. Regarding vertigo control, 6 out of 7 patients (85.7%) achieved grade A improvement while 1 patient (14.3%) achieved grade B. No statistically significant differences were found in disease duration, pure tone average, ACS-cVEMP, or ACS-oVEMP between the two groups (all p > 0.05). However, vHIT gain values in both the lateral and posterior semicircular canals were significantly higher in the Tumarkin group than in the control group (p = 0.03 and p = 0.01, respectively), but not in the superior semicircular canal (p = 0.29).

CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE TSCO surgery can probably serve as an alternative treatment for patients with Tumarkin crisis associated with MD before labyrinthectomy or vestibular neurectomy.