Bone cement ossiculoplasty: incus to stapes versus malleus to stapes cement bridge.

OBJECTIVE

In this study, our purpose was to evaluate results of our experience with bone cement repair of ossicular discontinuity between the incus and stapes and between the malleus and stapes.

METHODS

Medical records of patients who underwent surgery for chronic otitis media between March 2000 and December 2002 were evaluated retrospectively. Fifty-seven patients who underwent bone cement ossiculoplasty and had appropriate follow-up data were included in the study. Bone cement reconstruction of the ossicular chain was performed 1) from incus to stapes (I-S) in the absence of long arm or lenticular process of the incus and 2) from malleus to stapes (M-S) in the absence of the incus. The clinical data of the patients were evaluated by otoscopic examination and audiometry.

RESULTS

The graft take rate was 84.1%. I-S procedure was performed in 42 and M-S in 8 patients. Pre- and postoperative PTAs of all patients were compared, which showed a significant improvement in air PTA (p < 0.001) while bone PTA did not change (p > 0.05). In I-S and M-S groups, successful hearing restoration could be achieved in 78.6.1% and 87.5% of the patients, respectively. Hearing results of different aural pathologies (chronic otitis media and conductive hearing loss) and surgeries (tympanotomy and tympanoplasty with or without mastoidectomy) were not significantly different (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Bone cement ossiculoplasty offers cost effective and significant improvement in conductive hearing loss.