Early functional results using the nitibond prosthesis in stapes surgery

Conclusion: The NiTiBOND® prosthesis allows early results to be obtained similar to those with a manually crimped prosthesis fitted by experienced surgeons, thus reducing the learning curve in this critical step of the procedure. Objective: To analyze the 1-month results using the nitinol NiTiBOND® prosthesis in primary otosclerosis surgery and to compare the results with those obtained with fully fluoroplastic or fully titanium pistons. Materials and methods: Fifty consecutive cases operated on with the NiTiBOND® prosthesis (nitinol group) were compared with 50 cases operated on with a fully fluoroplastic piston (fluoroplastic group), and with 131 cases operated on with a fully titanium piston (first titanium group), and also with 50 cases operated on with the same titanium piston just before using the NiTiBOND® piston (last titanium group). Pure-tone and speech audiometry was performed 1 month after surgery for the nitinol group. Comparison was made between the early hearing results of the four groups. Results: The mean air–bone gap closure for the nitinol group was 16 ± 1.0 dB (mean ± SEM, n = 50); an air–bone gap of <15 dB and <10 dB was obtained in 100% and 84% of cases, respectively. These hearing results were similar to the last titanium group and significantly better than those observed in the fluoroplastic and first titanium groups.