Retrospective analysis of outcomes after stapedotomy with implantation of a self-crimping Nitinol stapes prosthesis

OBJECTIVE: To review hearing results after implantation of a self-crimping stapes prosthesis. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Analysis of hearing results in patients implanted with a self-crimping stapes prosthesis at two academic hospitals from 2000 to 2004. RESULTS: Seventy-nine ears were divided into short-term and intermediate follow-up groups. The mean postoperative air-bone gap (ABG), preoperative minus postoperative ABG, and preoperative minus postoperative bone conduction values were 5.7, 21.4, and 4.1 dB, respectively, for the short-term group, and 6.3, 22.3, and 4.7dB, respectively, for the intermediate group. The ABG was < 10 dB in 88 percent of the short-term group and in 79 percent of the intermediate group. CONCLUSIONS: The self-crimping Nitinol stapes prosthesis provides excellent short-term and intermediate postoperative hearing results, and may overcome the limitations of stapes prostheses requiring manual crimping. SIGNIFICANCE: This paper provides evidence for the use of a self-crimping Nitinol stapes prosthesis, which may simplify hearing restoration surgery for stapes fixation. (C) 2007 American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation. All rights reserved.