Dizziness handicap after cartilage cap occlusion for superior semicircular canal dehiscence

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the change in self-reported dizziness handicap after surgical repair using the cartilage cap occlusion technique in cases of superior canal dehiscence (SCD). STUDY DESIGN: Repeated measures, retrospective chart review. SETTING: Tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: Twenty patients over a 2-year period who underwent surgical repair of SCD using the cartilage cap occlusion technique. INTERVENTION: Therapeutic. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Preoperative and postoperative Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) questionnaires were completed (median, interquartile range). RESULTS: Preoperative (48, 28-56) and postoperative (33, 19-50) total scores were not significantly different. Scores for patients with moderate/severe preoperative DHI scores (DHI, >30; n = 14) demonstrated significant change (p = 0.001, Wilcoxon paired sample test), whereas those with mild scores did not (DHI, ≤30; n = 6; p = 0.67). CONCLUSION: Change in DHI score is variable. As described by DHI score, patients with higher preoperative handicap may demonstrate significant improvement after surgery, whereas those with mild handicap may not. These results are similar to previous reports and indicate that the cartilage cap occlusion technique may provide an alternative to middle fossa craniotomy approach for surgical management of symptomatic SCD.