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Updated: Sep 26, 2026
Surgical Labyrinthectomy of the Rat to Study the Vestibular System
Published on: May 19, 2018
Bone wax prevents nystagmus after labyrinthine fenestration in guinea pigs
John M Brockenbrough1, Sam Marzo, Robert Wurster
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL, USA.
Objective:
We examined the effect of 3 methods of closure of labyrinthine fenestrations.
Study Design And Setting:
A guinea pig animal model was developed to examine the effect of 3 methods of closure of labyrinthine fenestrations. These methods included bone wax alone, fascia and fibrin glue, and fascia alone. Nystagmus, a reproducible sign of labyrinthine injury, was chosen as an end point for comparing materials commonly used in human ear surgery.
Results:
Animals repaired with bone wax showed no postoperative nystagmus, whereas animals repaired with other materials or that underwent canal fenestration without repair showed 3 to 5 days of postoperative nystagmus.
Conclusions:
Although it is premature to extrapolate our results to human surgery, postoperative nystagmus can be eliminated in guinea pigs by sealing labyrinthine fenestrations with bone wax.
Significance:
Given the intimate relationship between the vestibular and cochlear systems, it is possible that prevention of vestibular irritation might be associated with preservation of cochlear function.
