First in India: MGM Healthcare Conducted A Rare Surgery for a rare form of Tinnitus - Ringing Sensation in the Ear

• 26-year-old gets relief from a rare “ringing sensation” 
• The first case to be treated via MVD surgery in India
• Less than 50 cases reported worldwide

Chennai, 8^th April 2021: A group of medical experts from the Chennai-based multispecialty hospital MGM Healthcare has successfully conducted a highly specialised Micro Vascular Decompression (MVD) surgery to treat a 26-year-old male who had a very rare form of undiagnosable Tinnitus. This is the first time the condition is being treated through MVD Surgery in the country.

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Tinnitus is a health condition in which the patient feels hearing noise in the ears continuously even though there is no external noise. Many a time, this could be a symptom of an undiagnosed ailment. MVD is a procedure that is regularly performed to treat Trigeminal Neuralgia (chronic pain over the face due to compression of nerves) but used in treating Tinnitus for the first time now.

( L to R) Saravanan Raman, Vice President Marketing, MGM Healthcare; Patient Mr. Venkat Ramanan; Dr. Sridhar K , Director & Group Head-Institute of Neurosciences & Spinal Disorders, MGM Healthcare; Dr. Anuradha Baskaran, Assistant Director, Medical Services, MGM Healthcare

The patient had been suffering from Tinnitus in his left ear since April 2019, and tried indigenous medication, but to no avail. The internal noise not only affected his sleep, but also resulted in losing focus on the daily activities and thus impacting the patient’s normal life. The disease is very rare that the medical science has recorded less than 50 cases worldwide with none from India till-date.

Patient Venkat Ramanan

He consulted several ENT surgeons, who concluded that his hearing was normal. There were no abnormalities diagnosed in his ear during detailed examination. Dr K Sridhar, Head Neurosurgery and Director and Group Head, Institute of Neurosciences and Spine, MGM Healthcare Chennai, who lead a team of experts who finally performed the MVD surgery, said that an MRI for the brain was done in January 2020, which showed no abnormal tumour or vascular malformation that could explain tinnitus.

 

 “After a detailed examination it was diagnosed that the artery abutting the auditory nerve was creating this problem,” he said “The surgery – Micro vascular Decompression of the Cochlear Nerve – entailed a highly precise and delicate microsurgical procedure under high magnification, to move the artery away from the nerve, and ensure that it stays that way, thus eradicating the problem. The main issue while performing this surgery for Tinnitus is that if it is not performed with the utmost precision, the patient can turn deaf and also develop facial weakness. We at MGM Healthcare are delighted to get the young xxx back on his feet and go for his higher education as he had planned earlier,” he added.

 

The patient has relief from the ringing sound in his ear post-surgery. He is now able to sleep comfortably, and concentrate on work. He is planning to pursue his higher studies which was kept on hold because of the tinnitus.

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