Early functional results using the nitibond prosthesis in stapes surgery.

CONCLUSION

The NiTiBOND® prosthesis allows early results to be obtained similar to those with a manually crimped prosthesis fitted by experienced surgeons, thus reducing the learning curve in this critical step of the procedure.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the 1-month results using the nitinol NiTiBOND® prosthesis in primary otosclerosis surgery and to compare the results with those obtained with fully fluoroplastic or fully titanium pistons.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Fifty consecutive cases operated on with the NiTiBOND® prosthesis (nitinol group) were compared with 50 cases operated on with a fully fluoroplastic piston (fluoroplastic group), and with 131 cases operated on with a fully titanium piston (first titanium group), and also with 50 cases operated on with the same titanium piston just before using the NiTiBOND® piston (last titanium group). Pure-tone and speech audiometry was performed 1 month after surgery for the nitinol group. Comparison was made between the early hearing results of the four groups.

RESULTS

The mean air-bone gap closure for the nitinol group was 16 ± 1.0 dB (mean ± SEM, n = 50); an air-bone gap of <15 dB and <10 dB was obtained in 100% and 84% of cases, respectively. These hearing results were similar to the last titanium group and significantly better than those observed in the fluoroplastic and first titanium groups.