Use of Mimix hydroxyapatite bone cement for difficult ossicular reconstruction

OBJECTIVE: To describe the advantages of using Mimix (TM) hydroxyapatite (HA) bone cement in reconstructing a variety of ossicular chain abnormalities. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Case series at a tertiary medical center. RESULTS: Twenty-five cases of HA reconstruction are included in this series (ages 23-74; mean, 47 years). The examples presented include (1) HA as the sole reconstructive material for incus erosion, (2) HA for securing a total or partial ossicular replacement prosthesis, (3) incus augmentation after crimping for revision stapedotomy with incus erosion, (4) HA in primary stapedotomy to fix the crimped prosthesis to an intact incus, and (5) other unique situations. Preoperative and postoperative audiograms were evaluated for 4-tone pure tone average (PTA), speech reception thresholds, word recognition scores, and air-bone gaps (AB gaps). Mean follow-up was I I months (range 2 to 22 months). The mean PTA improved from 57 dB to 37 dB, whereas the mean AB gaps decreased from 33 dB to 16 dB. There were no cases of infection or extrusion. CONCLUSIONS: Hydroxyapatite bone cement is an excellent adjunct or alternative to ossiculoplasty with preformed prostheses. Easily malleable, rapidly setting, and rapidly hardening, Mimix is particularly well suited for middle ear work. SIGNIFICANCE: Definitive fixation with bone cements during difficult ossicular chain reconstruction may ensure a more enduring successful outcome.