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Titanium angular clip: a new prosthesis for reconstruction of the long process of the incus
Karl-Bernd Huttenbrink1, Jan Christoffer Luers, Dirk Beutner
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
Objectives:
To describe a new titanium angular clip prosthesis for bridging the incudostapedial joint in the event of an isolated lesion of the distal end of the long process of the incus.
Study Design:
Clinical retrospective study.
Methods:
We retrospectively reviewed the course of 22 patients with isolated defects of the long process of the incus where the ossicular chain was reconstructed by a titanium angular clip prosthesis.
Results:
The placement of the prosthesis was successful in all patients, and no complication was encountered during its installation. At the first follow-up visit after 3 weeks, the mean air-bone gap (ABG) was reduced by around 10 dB from a mean of 26 dB preoperatively to 16 dB postoperatively. The mean postoperative hearing result of patients with a Type A tympanogram (7-dB ABG) was consistently better than for patients with a Type B or a Type C tympanogram (19-dB ABG in both).
Conclusion:
Despite the limited number of patients, this preliminary study demonstrates the effectiveness of the angular clip prosthesis in reconstructing the ossicular chain. In cases of a normal aeration of the tympanic cavity, this reliable reconstruction of the biological chain offers a near-to-normal hearing restoration.
