Surgical treatment of posterior semicircular canal dehiscence syndrome caused by jugular diverticulum

Abstract

Objective: We report a rare case of posterior semicircular canal dehiscence caused by a jugular diverticulum, and we describe its surgical treatment using a dehiscence resurfacing manoeuvre.

Method: The clinical findings, surgical procedure and outcomes are presented.

Results: A 66-year-old man presented with disequilibrium, sound-induced vertigo, a reduced ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potential threshold, and pressure-induced vertical and torsional nystagmus. Computed tomography revealed a right posterior semicircular canal dehiscence caused by a diverticulum of the jugular bulb. The defect in the posterior semicircular canal was localised and resurfaced with bone paté, temporalis muscle fascia and conchal cartilage, under direct visualisation. Post-operatively, the patient's symptoms disappeared and his ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potential threshold normalised.

Conclusion: This case illustrates that posterior semicircular canal dehiscence can be surgically managed by resurfacing the defect site via a transmastoid approach.