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Microscopic view of a middle ear where special cement is used to reattach the incus bone (anvil) to the stapes bone (stirrup).
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A common cause of hearing loss is destruction of the hearing bones (ossicles) by chronic infections. The FDA has recently approved a special new cement for use in reconstructing the hearing bones. Pittsburgh Ear’s surgeons have used this new cement called SerenoCem or Ionocem to “glue” hearing bones back together after they have been partially dissolved by infections.
Our surgeons have found that the cement permits us to preserve patient’s own hearing bones in situations where we previously had to sacrifice the patients own bones and substitute plastic bones. By cementing together the bones we are able to reconstruct nature’s own mechanism and preserve patient’s natural hearing.
This technique has been available in Europe for many years, and our surgeons have been perfecting their skills in the research laboratory for years while awaiting final approval for use in this country. Now that it is available, our patients in Pittsburgh can finally benefit from this material. Pittsburgh Ear’s physicians recently taught a special course reviewing the technical details of this material at the National Meeting of the American Academy of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery held in Denver, Colorado during September 2001.
In cases where the incus (anvil bone) no longer reaches the stapes (stirrup bone), the cements permit a new connection to transmit the sound to the inner ear and restore hearing.
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