Yoon Byungwoo, Koo Soo-Kweon, Baek Moo-Jin, Lee Il-Woo, Oh Se-Joon, Kong Soo-Keun
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Busan St. Mary's Medical Center, Busan, Korea.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Haeundae Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
J Audiol Otol. 2025 Jul;29(3):219-225. doi: 10.7874/jao.2025.00157. Epub 2025 Jul 18.
The Eustachian tube cartilage (ETC) is the cartilaginous frame of the Eustachian tube (ET), which plays a pivotal role in its function. Existing treatments for ET dysfunction (ETD) are primarily based on mechanical deformation. Electromechanical reshaping (EMR) is a novel method used to reshape the cartilage into the desired form by applying an electric current using strategically placed needles for mechanical deformation. In this study, EMR was evaluated for its ability to reshape the ETC.
A total of 84 ETCs were harvested from 42 post-mortem porcine crania and randomly divided into control and experimental (EMR) groups. To reshape the ETC, the control ETCs were subjected to a mechanical force, whereas the experimental group was subjected to the same force and current of 3, 4, or 5 V for 2 or 3 min. Changes in shape were assessed by measuring the contour angles using digital photographs.
In the analysis of the contour angle, ETC post-EMR for 2 min at ≥4 V demonstrated significant reshaping relative to the control group (p<0.05).
EMR can be used to reshape the ETCs ex vivo. Future experiments with well-designed ex vivo and in vivo conditions are required to develop novel therapeutic options for ETD.
咽鼓管软骨（ETC）是咽鼓管（ET）的软骨框架，在其功能中起关键作用。现有的咽鼓管功能障碍（ETD）治疗方法主要基于机械变形。机电重塑（EMR）是一种通过使用精心放置的针施加电流进行机械变形，将软骨重塑为所需形状的新方法。在本研究中，对EMR重塑ETC的能力进行了评估。
从42个猪尸体颅骨中获取84个ETC，并随机分为对照组和实验组（EMR组）。为了重塑ETC，对对照ETC施加机械力，而实验组则施加相同的力并分别施加3、4或5V的电流，持续2或3分钟。通过使用数码照片测量轮廓角度来评估形状变化。
在轮廓角度分析中，≥4V下EMR处理2分钟后的ETC相对于对照组显示出显著的重塑（p<0.05）。
EMR可用于在体外重塑ETC。未来需要在精心设计的体外和体内条件下进行实验，以开发针对ETD的新型治疗方案。
