Steigbügelchirurgie : Erste Erfahrungen mit dem Einsatz des neuen Soft-CliP®-Pistons (Originalien)

BackgroundThe first hearing results with a new stapes prosthesis with clip function (Soft-CliP® piston) are presented.Patients and MethodsThis new prosthesis was used in 15 patients (mean age 45.2 years; range 21-63 years) undergoing routine stapes surgery. Soft-CliP® piston prostheses with a shaft diameter of 0.4 mm and a length ranging from 4.25 mm to 5.5 mm were used. Postoperative audiological testing and measurement of the air-bone gap were performed after an average of 47.3 days and compared with the preoperative values.ResultsThe median observed postoperative air-bone gap (ABG) was 8.33 dB ±4.16 dB. All patients had less than 20 dB ABG and in 53.3% of cases was less than 10 dB. The operating time showed a clear difference between the left (66.5 min ±37.79 min) and right ears (47.2 min ±11.08 min).DiscussionThis new prosthesis design greatly facilitates a very difficult step in stapes surgery, the prosthesis fixation to the incus. The first postoperative hearing results are very promising but long-term results in a larger group of patients are still pending.