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Updated: Jun 23, 2026
07:35
The Microscopic Transcanal Approach in Stapes Surgery Revisited
Published on: February 16, 2022
[Stapes surgery : first experiences with the new Soft-CliP piston].
1Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Klinik, Kopf- und Halschirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Waldstrasse 1, 91054, Erlangen, Deutschland. Christoph.Brase@uk-erlangen.de
HNO
|April 23, 2009
Summary
The novel Soft-CliP(R) piston stapes prosthesis shows promising initial hearing results in stapes surgery. This clip-function prosthesis simplifies incus fixation, with most patients achieving a reduced air-bone gap post-operation.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Neurosurgery
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Stapes surgery is a critical procedure in otology.
- The fixation of stapes prostheses to the incus presents a surgical challenge.
- A new stapes prosthesis, the Soft-CliP(R) piston, has been developed to address this.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present the initial hearing outcomes of the Soft-CliP(R) piston prosthesis.
- To evaluate the efficacy and ease of use of the new prosthesis in stapes surgery.
Main Methods:
- The Soft-CliP(R) piston prosthesis (0.4 mm shaft diameter, 4.25-5.5 mm length) was used in 15 patients (mean age 45.2 years).
- Patients underwent routine stapes surgery.
- Postoperative audiological testing and air-bone gap (ABG) measurements were compared to preoperative values after an average of 47.3 days.
Main Results:
- The median postoperative air-bone gap (ABG) was 8.33 dB +/-4.16 dB.
- All patients achieved an ABG of less than 20 dB.
- In 53.3% of cases, the ABG was less than 10 dB.
Conclusions:
- The Soft-CliP(R) piston prosthesis design simplifies the challenging step of prosthesis fixation to the incus.
- Initial postoperative hearing results are highly promising.
- Long-term data from a larger patient cohort are needed for definitive conclusions.
