Comparison of Hydroxyapatite Prosthesis and Incus Interposition in Incus Defects

Abstract

Objective: Chronic otitis media most commonly causes an ossicular chain defect in incus. Different materials can be used for repair of this defect. In this study, the hydroxyapatite prosthesis, used for repair of the incus defect, was compared with the incus interposition.Methods: Between 2010 and 2016, 27 female and 16 male patients who underwent ossiculoplasty due to an incus defect were studied retrospectively. Patients' hearing results at the sixth month were compared. The hydroxyapatite prosthesis was used in 24 patients (group 1) and incus interposition was used in 19 patients (group 2) for the ossicular chain repair. Hearing gain at 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz between the two groups and the success rates in the two groups were compared.Results: Successful hearing reconstruction was performed on 10 patients in each group (group 1, 41.6% and group 2, 52.9%). There was no statistically significant difference between groups both in terms of successful hearing and hearing gain at 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz. There was no extrusion of the materials used in both groups.Conclusion: As it does not have any additional cost and is easily shaped and biocompatibility problem is not encountered; we recommend using incus interposition primarily in incus defects.

Keywords

• tympanoplasty
• hearing loss
• incus
• hydroxyapatite