臺大公衛學院-流行病學與預防醫學研究所;Kuo, Chin-LungChin-LungKuoWang, Mao-CheMao-CheWangChu, Chia-HueiChia-HueiChuShiao, An-SueyAn-SueyShiao2014-02-172018-06-292014-02-172018-06-292013http://ntur.lib.ntu.edu.tw//handle/246246/260085Objective: The aim of this study was to compare hearing outcomes in otosclerosis surgeries with the Nitinol self-crimping piston versus conventional manual-crimping prostheses in an Asian population, who have a much lower prevalence of otosclerosis than Caucasians. Materials and Methods: A total of 109 operations performed on 93 patients were included in the study. Thirty-four surgeries with Nitinol pistons and 75 surgeries with conventional prostheses were evaluated. All patients received pure-tone audiograms preoperatively and postoperatively. Results: The mean age was 41.9 years old and the mean follow-up period was 18.0 months. In the Nitinol piston group, the postoperative air-bone gap (ABG) average (8.6 +/- 8.5 dB) was significantly smaller than the preoperative ABG average (27.1 +/- 7.6 dB, p<0.001). Similarly, the postoperative ABG average for conventional piston group was 12.5 +/- 11.8 dB, which was also significantly smaller than preoperative ABG average (29.6 +/- 9.1 dB, p<0.001). The Nitinol piston group showed comparable hearing outcomes (e.g., air and bone conduction thresholds and ABG average) with the conventional piston group (all p>0.05). Additionally, ABG closure within 20 dB was reached in 91.2% of patients for the Nitinol piston group, while in 84.0% for the conventional piston group (p=0.383). Conclusion: This report is the first long-term comparative analysis of hearing results with Nitinol piston and conventional prostheses in an Asian population, and it verifies that Nitinol piston provides comparable long-term hearing outcomes with conventional prostheses. Importantly, Nitinol piston may offer an easier and more effective surgical choice for patients with otosclerosis.