title: Bone cement: how effective is it at restoring hearing in isolated incudostapedial erosion?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effectiveness of biocements in rebridging isolated incudostapedial erosion.
  
  
  METHODS
  A review of the use of biocements for isolated incudostapedial joint erosion was performed on publications from 1998 to 2012 available from Medline, Embase and Pubmed. Inclusion criteria were papers published in English, case series or comparative studies with more than 10 patients, isolated incudostapedial erosion through chronic ear disease, minimal air-bone gap less than 20 dB (or air-bone gap less than 10 dB) and follow up for at least one year.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 108 patients, rebridging ossiculoplasty was performed using hydroxyapatite cement. Closure of air-bone gaps less than 20 dB and less than 10 dB was achieved in 80-94.4 per cent and 29-75 per cent, respectively. Glass ionomer cement was used in 318 patients. Closure of air-bone gaps less than 20 dB and less than 10 dB was achieved in 74-94 per cent and 40-76 per cent, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Biocements can be successfully used to close isolated incudostapedial erosions. Larger comparative prospective studies documenting the length of eroded incus and types of reformation of the incudostapedial joint, with standardised reporting, are needed in the future.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Royal Blackburn Hospital,East Lancashire Hospital NHS Trust,UK.
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Royal Blackburn Hospital,East Lancashire Hospital NHS Trust,UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Narayan
mesh_terms: D001843:Bone Cements; D017886:Durapatite; D004429:Ear Ossicles; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007188:Incus / Q000473:pathology*; D013199:Stapes / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D001843:Bone Cements; D017886:Durapatite