Hearing Outcome With the Use of Glass Ionomer Cement as an Alternative to Crimping in Stapedotomy.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate early hearing outcomes using glass ionomer cement to fix the Teflon piston prosthesis onto the long process of incus to minimize residual conductive hearing loss after stapedotomy.

STUDY

DESIGN

Original report of prospective randomized control study.

SETTING

Tertiary referral center.

PATIENTS: A total of 80 consecutive patients with otosclerosis were randomized into two groups. Group A is a control group in which 40 patients underwent small fenestra stapedotomy using the classic technique. Group B included 40 patients who were subjected to small fenestra stapedotomy with fixation of the incus-prosthesis junction with glass ionomer bone cement.

INTERVENTIONS: Stapedotomy with the classical technique in group A and the alternative technique in group B.

PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURE: The audiometric results before and after surgery.

RESULTS

Analysis of the results was performed using the paired t test to compare between pre and postoperative results. χ test was used to compare the results of the two groups. A p value less than 0.05 was considered significant from the statistical standpoint. Significant postoperative improvement of both pure-tone air conduction thresholds and air-bone gaps were reported in the two studied groups. The postoperative average residual air-bone gap and hearing gain were statistically significant in group B (p < 0.05) compared with group A.

CONCLUSION

The use of glass ionomer bone cement in primary otosclerosis surgery using the aforementioned prosthesis and the surgical technique is of significant value in producing maximal closure of the air-bone gap and better audiological outcomes.