Introduction:
Stapes plastic surgery (SP) is an established method of improving hearing in case
of conductive or combined hearing loss. By reinforcing of the prostheses, an optimization
of the implants could be achieved. The aim of the study was to evaluate the audiological
results of the SP with the new NiTinol Alloy prostheses.
Methods:
Preoperative and postoperative pure tone audiograms of patients with stapes plastic
were evaluated. NiTinol Alloy Prostheses (NiTAP) were implanted in the patients. Postoperative
measurements were taken at 3 rd week after surgery. As control group 10 patients were
selected, who were treated by the same surgeon with a classical prosthesis.
Results:
The prior 8 patients of the NiTAP group received 9 prostheses (one patient was operated
on both sides sequentially). The average reduction in the air-bone gap was 18.5 ±
9.4 dB (MV ± SD). Postoperative bone conduction averaged on 3.3 dB (SD =± 3.3 dB)
above the preoperative inner ear threshold. The control group showed a mean reduction
in the air-bone gap of 12.7 ± 3.5 dB (MV ± SD). The inner ear threshold showed no
relevant change postoperatively. The postoperative average air-bone gap in the NiTAP
group was 13.5 ± 3.9dB (MV ± SD) while that of the control group was 13.9 ± 7dB (MV
± SD).
Conclusions:
Bone conduction was largely unaffected by surgery, suggesting a safe surgical approach.
Based on the investigated patient collective, it could be shown that the SP with NiTAP
is a relatively uncomplicated, practicable and sufficient method for improving the
hearing conduction.
