[Use of glass ionomer cement in surgery of the incus-stapedial joint. An initial report of experiences].

Chronic inflammations of the middle ear are characterised by perforation of the tympanic membrane as well as hearing loss, due to disintegration in the incudostapedial joint. Usually the perforation is easily restored by means of available modern procedures; on the other hand, failure of the reconstruction of the ossicular chain, especially of the incudostapedial joint, is not uncommon. Hence, the improvement of hearing capacity is transitory, since later, due to scars, graft lateralisation results in a dislocation of the primarily reconstructed ossicular chain. The patient's hearing capacity is then as poor as it has been before surgery. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the ways of satisfactory reconstruction of the incudostapedial joint by means of glass-ionomer cement: 1. Scar tissue connecting the ossicles in slight defects of the incudostapedial joint can be stabilised by glass-ionomer cement leading to a reasonable sound transmission. 2. If the incus has to be removed in case of a more serious defect, the columella can be properly fixed to the stapes by means of glass-ionomer cement without the risk of scar-induced lateralisation. 3. The fixation of the stapes prosthesis' wire loop to the incus can be effectively achieved by glass-ionomer cement.