Incudostapedial rebridging ossiculoplasty with glass ionomer cement: a case report

Abstract

A 31-year-old woman presented with a complaint of hearing loss of a two-year history. Otoscopic examination revealed a central ear drum perforation without discharge. The air-bone gap was 35 dB at 0.5, 1, 2, and 3 kHz. Under general anesthesia, the patient underwent tympanoplasty for chronic otitis media. At surgery, the ossicular chain was intact except for discontinuity by a 2-mm gap between the long process of the incus and the head of the stapes. The gap was reconstructed with the use of a fluoroplastic prosthesis. Myringoplasty was successful, but the patient complained of hearing loss at the end of six months. Transcanal posterior tympanotomy was performed under local anesthesia for decreased conductive hearing. The prosthesis was still in place, but was not conducting the movements of the malleus to the stapes. It was removed and glass ionomer cement (Ketac-Cem) was applied for rebridging. The average air-bone gap measured in the postoperative sixth month was less than 10 dB.