Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Incus Interposition in the Geriatric Population

Background: Hearing loss reduces quality of life, particularly prevalent in the geriatric population (≥ 65 years). This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of incus interposition in the geriatric population and to compare functional outcomes with those of the adults.

Methods: Patients who underwent incus interposition in the clinic were retrospectively reviewed and divided into 2 groups according to age. Cases with ossicular problems other than incus problems, cholesteatoma, and revision surgeries were excluded from the study. The results of pure tone audiometry preoperatively and postoperatively (sixth month) were compared within each group and between the groups. The differences in air conduction, bone conduction, and air-bone gap were analyzed.

Results: The study included a total of 76 patients, 44 (57.9%) under 65 years of age and 32 (42.1%) over 65 years of age. The distribution of sex and type of graft was homogeneous between the groups. The preoperative air and bone conduction thresholds were significantly higher in the geriatric group compared to the adult group (P < .001). In the sixth postoperative month, a significant reduction in air conduction thresholds and air-bone gap was observed in both groups (P < .001). When the changes in the air-bone gap between the preoperative and postoperative periods were compared, the adult group showed a significantly greater improvement than the geriatric group (P = .006).

Conclusion: Incus interposition is a safe and effective surgical procedure in the geriatric population. The comparatively lower hearing gains observed in the geriatric group may be attributed to age-related pathological changes in the middle ear.

Cite this article as: Akı ES, Dalgı. A, Aksoy-Yıldırım G, Kertmen C, Kubilay U. Evaluation of the effectiveness of incus interposition in the geriatric population. B-ENT. 2025;21(2):86-90.