Functional outcomes of glass ionomer cement usage in hearing reconstruction

Objective: In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the functional outcomes of glass ionomer cement (GIC) usage in patients with hearing reconstruction. Materials and methods: Patients admitted between 01.01.2009 and 31.12.2013 due to the conductive type and mixed type hearing loss were included in the study retrospectively. Standard patient data entry form was created. the files of the patients, operation notes and audiological test results were examined. Patients' age, gender, preoperative examination findings, preoperative audiological examination values, middle ear risk index score, surgery type, graft type, where glass ionomer cement is applied, postoperative examination, postoperative audiological examination values and follow-up period were were obtained, and analyzed statistically. The cases whose air-bone gap (ABG) smaller than the value of 20 dB was considered as functionally successful. Results: Of the totally 45 patients enrolled in our study, it was determined that the mean age was 28.7 ± 13.1 years, majority of them were females (62.2%), tympanoplasty (66.7%) and the closed technique tympanomastoidectomy (31.1%) were the most common operations, glass inomer cement was mostly applied between incus - stapes (82.2%), and temporalis fascia graft (68.9%) was used most commonly. It was observed that the average mean value of postoperative ABG in 500, 1000, 2000 and 4000 frequencies improved statistically significant (p <0.05) when compared with preoperative mean values. The mean preoperative ABG was 33.1 ± 8.8, and the mean value of postoperative ABG was 24.8 ± 9.8. It was found that 31.1% of the patients had postoperative ABG values less then 20 dB. The mean follow-up time of patients enrolled in the study was 8.5 ± 8.8 months (range 3-36 months); and 46.7% of the patients had follow-up period between 3 and 6 months. Conclusion: Statistically significant improvement can be obtained with GIC in ossiculoplasty. Refinement of the indications, longer follow-up time are needed to determine the effectiveness of this material.