Background: Surgical intervention can effectively treat venous pulsatile tinnitus.
Aim/objectives: To assess the effectiveness of treating of venous pulsatile tinnitus (VPT) by compression reconstruction of sigmoid sinus (SSCR) under local anesthesia.
Material and methods: This study retrospectively reviewed 41 patients with VPT in our otolaryngology department between September 2009 and February 2019. Under local anesthesia, all patients were received SSCR. Pre- and postoperative Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) degree and scores were used to evaluate the efficacy of SSCR for VPT.
Results: Of the 41 patients, 36 patients were followed up from 9 months to 8 years and 5 patients were lost to follow-up and were excluded from the data analysis. SSCR was clinically effective in 86% of patients with complete disappearance in 18 patients (50%), partial remission in 10 patients (28%), slight alleviation in 3 patients (8%), and no change in 5 patients (14%). The pre- and postoperative THI degree and scores were significantly different (p < .001 and p = .002, respectively).
Conclusions and significance: SSCR under local anesthesia is effective for treating patients with VPT. It is critical to perform a rigorous pre-operative clinical and radiological evaluation to reduce intra- and postoperative complications.
Keywords: Tinnitus Handicap Inventory; Venous pulsatile tinnitus; compression reconstruction of sigmoid sinus.