Audiologic Gain of Incus Short Process Vibroplasty With Conventional Incus Long Process Vibroplasty: A Retrospective Analysis of 36 Patients.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the audiological and non-audiological benefits of incus short process (SP) vibroplasty with those of conventional incus long process (LP) vibroplasty.

STUDY

DESIGN

Retrospective analysis.

SETTING

Tertiary referral center.

PATIENTS: Thirty-six patients with sensorineural hearing loss were treated with the semi-implantable middle ear hearing device. Of these, 22 were treated with conventional LP vibroplasty, and 14 were treated with SP vibroplasty using SP couplers.

INTERVENTIONS: Implantation with the semi-implantable middle ear hearing device by different methods.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pre- and postoperative hearing level, word recognition score, operation time, and duration of hospital stay were compared. We also surveyed a questionnaire to assess postoperative complications.

RESULTS

The improvement in hearing gain was comparable between SP vibroplasty and conventional LP vibroplasty, except at 8 kHz, at which LP vibroplasty showed better hearing gain (p < 0.05). Patients undergoing SP vibroplasty had shorter operation time (p < 0.01) and duration of hospital stay (p < 0.01). While four patients who underwent incus LP vibroplasty experienced taste changes, none who underwent incus SP vibroplasty experienced any complications.

CONCLUSIONS

SP vibroplasty with the newly invented SP coupler could be a good alternative to conventional LP vibroplasty for treating patients with sensorineural hearing loss. Although both SP vibroplasty and LP vibroplasty produce good results, the former is associated with a shorter operation time and duration of hospital stay as well as fewer complications.