Partial Ossicular Reconstruction Prosthesis Research Articles

Can the unmodified incus be used for a simpler, more cost-effective functional ossicular chain reconstruction? A retrospective clinical study.

To evaluate patients' hearing outcomes after ossicular chain reconstruction using unmodified autologous incus. A single-centred, retrospective study of patients who underwent incus interposition between June 2010 and October 2017 was conducted at a Dutch secondary referral centre. This paper describes a chart review of patients who presented with erosion of the long process of the incus due to atelectasis or cholesteatoma who were treated with an unmodified incus interposition. The main outcome measures were: post-operative air-bone gap and level of air-bone gap closure. Thirty-three ears of 32 patients were included. Follow-up duration ranged from six weeks to seven years. A mean post-operative air-bone gap under 25 dB was considered successful; this was achieved in 25 patients (76 per cent), 20 (91 per cent) in the partial ossicular reconstruction prosthesis group and 5 (45 per cent) in the total ossicular reconstruction prosthesis group. This difference was statistically significant (p = 0.007). Successful preservation and improvement of hearing was observed in most patients. As expected, the closure rate in the partial ossicular reconstruction prosthesis group was better. Longer follow-up studies with larger case numbers are needed to assess whether further reconstruction techniques are necessary.

Incus Autograft Partial Ossicular Reconstruction Prosthesis vs. Titanium Angular Clip Prosthesis in Patients with Incudostapedial Joint Erosion Caused by Chronic Otitis Media; A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Chronic otitis media (COM) is a common disease that can cause damage to the middle ear ossicles and thus lead to conductive hearing loss. The purpose of this study was to compare two methods of incus partial ossicular reconstruction prosthesis (PORP) and reconstruction with titanium angular clip prosthesis in patients with incudostapedial joint erosion. In this interventional randomized clinical trial carried out in a tertiary referral hospital, patients with chronic otitis media and incudostapedial joint erosion who were candidates for surgery, were randomly allocated into two groups of incus PORP surgery and reconstruction with a titanium angular clip prosthesis. Audiometry was performed for the patients prior to and six months after surgery. Pre- and post-operative air-bone gap (ABG) and bone conduction (BC) thresholds were calculated and means were compared by analysis of variances (ANOVA). A P value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. The study consisted of 24 and 14 subjects in the incus PORP and angular clip groups, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the mean pre- and post-operative ABG, BC thresholds and ABG reduction in the compared groups. Considering issues such as high cost and inaccessibility of titanium angular clips in all centers, incus PORP may be a more acceptable method.

Single centre experience of ossiculoplasty using different materials: a subjective and objective evaluation

&lt;p class="abstract"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background:&lt;/strong&gt; Chronic otitis media has serious impact over the ossicular integrity in middle ear resulting in ossicular necrosis and various grades of hearing loss along with other associated symptoms. Tympanomastoidectomy with ossicular reconstruction using various materials can improve the symptoms.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="abstract"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods:&lt;/strong&gt; A retrospective study of 50 patients underwent tympanomastoidectomy with ossiculoplasty in Department of ENT and Head and Neck Surgery at AIIMS Patna from April 2017 to 2018. Patients with chronic otitis media having ossicular necrosis with ABG (air bone gap) more than 25 dB were included in this study. PORP (partial ossicular reconstruction prosthesis) and TORP (total ossicular reconstruction prosthesis) were used as ossicular reconstruction after clearance of disease. This study was expressed as subjective and objective evaluation following ossiculoplasty. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="abstract"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results:&lt;/strong&gt; Fifty patients having chronic otitis media with decreased hearing and other associating symptoms were included in this study. Preoperative air conduction threshold was 55.32 dB with preoperative ABG was 44.24 dB. Postoperative result was summarised as postoperative AC threshold was 32.72 dB with gain of 22.60 dB with ABG 25.45 dB.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="abstract"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusions:&lt;/strong&gt; Chronic otitis media may lead to ossicular necrosis and various grade of hearing loss. A proper technique and skilled tympanomastoidectomy with ossiculoplasty can improve the symptoms of chronic otitis media.&lt;/p&gt;

Total and partial ossiculoplasty in children: Audiological results and predictive factors

ObjectiveTo assess ossiculoplasty results in children and screen for predictive factors of efficacy. Patients and methodsSeventy five children undergoing ossiculoplasty between 2001 and 2014 in a pediatric ENT department were included. The following data were collected and analyzed: demographic data, surgical indication, history of tympanoplasty, contralateral ear status (healthy, affected), preoperative hearing thresholds, surgical technique, intraoperative findings, and ossicular chain status at eardrum opening. Audiological results were reported according to American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery guidelines. ResultsForty eight patients were included in the total ossicular reconstruction prosthesis (TORP) group. Mean age at surgery was 9.9years. Mean follow up was 2.7years. Mean air-bone gap (ABG) closure to within 20dB was achieved in 40% of cases at medium term (12 to 18 months after surgery). Air conduction (AC) threshold ≤30dB was achieved in 68% of cases. AC threshold improved by 14.6dB and 8.7dB at medium and long-term follow-up, respectively. A significant correlation was found between success rate and absence of history of tympanoplasty. The success rate was higher for primary than for revision procedures. Twenty seven children were included in the partial ossicular reconstruction prosthesis (PORP) group. Mean age was 9.5years, and mean follow-up 2.6years. Mean air-bone gap (ABG) closure to within 20dB was achieved in 75% of cases at medium term. AC threshold ≤30dB was achieved in 75% of cases AC threshold improved by 9.3dB and 5dB at medium and long-term follow-up, respectively. No predictive factors for success were found in the PORP group. ConclusionThe present study suggested that total ossiculoplasty leads to better results when performed in first-line. It also confirmed that functional outcome is better in partial than total ossicular reconstruction prosthesis.

Comparative study of autologous incus, tragal cartilage and partial ossicular reconstruction prosthesis (PORP) in ossiculoplasty

Comparative study of autologous incus, tragal cartilage and partial ossicular reconstruction prosthesis (PORP) in ossiculoplasty

연골을 이용한 방패형 제3형 고실성형술의 임상적 유용성

Background and Objectives: Many types of cartilage tympanoplasty have been used in various middle conditions effectively. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of type III cartilage shield tympanoplasty. Subjects and Methods: We adopted a carvum conchal cartilage shield tympanoplasty for 3 cases of cholesteatoma, 6 adhesive otitis media, and 6 chronic otitis media of near-total perforation. Malleus handle was medialized but intact before surgery in all the 15 cases. For the hearing outcome evaluation, we set control group of conventional type III tympanoplasty with cartilage capping partial ossicular reconstruction using partial ossicular reconstruction prosthesis. Air-bone gap (ABG) was compared between the study group and control group before and after surgery, and postoperative neo-drum status and complication was evaluated. Results: None of the study ears showed reperforation or any complication at minimum 9 months of follow-up. Two cases were found to have anterosuperior partial retraction of neo-drum. The average ABG was 27.2±9.4 dB preoperatively and 19.0±11.6 dB postoperatively in study group, and 39.58 ± 18.92 dB preoperatively, 20.76±21.36 dB postoperatively in control group. No statistical difference of ABG was found between study and control group (p&gt;0.05). Conclusions: Cartilage shield type III tympanoplasty was safe and effective in high risk of failure group such as large perforation, atelectasis, adhesive otitis media, and cholesteatoma with medialized malleus. (J Clinical Otolaryngol 2013; 24:50–55)

Clip Vibroplasty

To describe an active auditory rehabilitation method (clip vibroplasty) for conductive or mixed hearing loss in cases of a preserved stapes superstructure. After temporal bone experiments, the new clip vibroplasty was clinically used in 4 patients with chronic otitis media. A new titanium double clip device (clip vibroplasty) was developed for a standardized and effective coupling of the floating mass transducer of the Vibrant Soundbridge to the intact stapes. Temporal bone experiments using laser Doppler vibrometry were performed to evaluate the device's acoustic efficiency. The audiologic outcomes of the first 4 patients were analyzed. The subjective benefits and satisfaction were assessed using the standardized International Outcome Inventory for Hearing Aids in all patients. Transfer characteristics of laser Doppler vibrometry experiments; audiologic outcomes of the 4 patients. In the temporal bone experiment, coupling of the FMT using the titanium double clip support produced transfer characteristics across all tested frequencies comparable to our former total ossicular reconstruction prosthesis or an optimal round window application. The intraoperative application of the clip vibroplasty was uneventful in all cases. No signs of prosthesis dislocation were noted within the follow-up period of approximately 12 months. The audiologic outcome of the first patients showed good hearing gain in pure-tone and speech audiometry, with results that are unobtainable using a conventional air conduction hearing aid. The concept of a partial ossicular reconstruction prosthesis vibroplasty using a titanium clip support entails a straightforward procedure similar to a classic partial ossicular reconstruction prosthesis tympanoplasty. The unoccluded ear canal and the superior auditory performance offer an advantageous application of this "power clip" in cases of chronic middle ear dysfunction.

Ossicular Chain Reconstruction Using Titanium versus Hydroxyapatite Implants

Compare the efficacy of total and partial ossicular chain reconstruction using hydroxyapatite (HA) implants versus titanium (Ti) implants. Case series with chart review. Academic tertiary referral center and private practice. 404 patients underwent ossiculoplasty using either Ti or HA implants from June 1996 to September 2008. Patient data were collected retrospectively from the senior author's electronic database of surgical cases. The change in air-bone gap (ΔABG) (defined as the difference between the means of preoperative and postoperative ABG) was 9.9 dB for the HA group that received partial ossicular reconstruction prosthesis (PORP), 9.5 dB for the Ti PORP group, 12.3 dB for the Ti group that received total ossicular reconstruction prosthesis (TORP), and 10.0 dB for the HA TORP group. There was no statistically significant difference between the HA and Ti groups. There was no significant difference in hearing results between canal wall up (CWU) and canal wall down (CWD) cases in which mastoidectomy was performed. Four confounding factors (preoperative otorrhea, preoperative perforation, cholesteatoma, mastoidectomy performed) were analyzed using regression analysis. In the Ti PORP group, the presence of cholesteatoma was found to have a significant negative bias for hearing results. No statistically significant differences in hearing results were found between the HA and the Ti partial and total ossiculoplasty prostheses. No outcome difference was found between CWU versus CWD mastoidectomy groups for any type of implant used. A randomized, prospective study is necessary for a more definitive comparison of efficacy between HA and Ti OCR implants.

Effect of Adhesion on the Acoustic Functioning of Partial Ossicular Replacement Prostheses in the Cadaveric Human Ear

Adhesion formation following ossiculoplasty surgery has been implicated as a cause of the progressive deterioration of an initially good postoperative hearing result. Scar tissue between the partial ossicular reconstruction prosthesis (PORP) and adjacent middle ear structures is a common finding at revision surgery. This study aims to investigate the effects of simulated scarring on the microacoustic transmission characteristics of a PORP in the fresh cadaveric human temporal bone. Cortical mastoidectomy and extended posterior tympanotomy permitted access to reflective markers placed on the stapes footplate. A sound stimulus at 80 to 95 dB was presented to the closed external ear canal and displacements were measured with the laser Doppler vibrometer. PORPs were placed in cadaveric specimens, and the shaft of the prosthesis was cemented to the adjacent promontory using dental cement. Serial measurements were made from the stapes footplate as the adhesive was allowed to harden, a process that we have taken to simulate the gradual fixation of the prosthesis by scarring in the live patient. There was a consistent reduction in stapes footplate displacement as the cement hardened. The gradual adhesion of a PORP to the promontory produces a consistent reduction in microacoustic transfer to the stapes footplate in the fresh human cadaveric model.

Management of congenital atresia of the external auditory canal.

The management of a unilateral congenital atresia of the external auditory canal is nonuniform and debated. Various surgical approaches, timing, coordination with microtia repair, and variable hearing improvements all contribute to the debate regarding management of this entity. This paper outlines our craniofacial team approach to the congenital unilateral atresia and microtia in children. Selection criteria, timing of repair, coordination with microtia repair, surgical results, and pitfalls will be discussed. The results of surgery in 16 patients with unilateral congenital atresia of the external auditory canal and 2 children with bilateral atresia will be presented. Repair of the atresia was undertaken in children 5 years or older who had pneumatized mastoids and middle ears. Replacement of the malleus/incus complex with a partial ossicular reconstruction prosthesis improved closure of the air-bone gap. Drawbacks included meatal stenosis and deepithelization of the split thickness skin graft lining the external auditory canal. Repair of the unilateral congenital atresia is a demanding and challenging problem but one in which excellent results are achievable.

How do cartilage and other material overlay over a prosthesis affect its vibration transmission properties in ossiculoplasty?

Objective The prosthesis/eardrum interface is often deliberately modified by cartilage overlay, or by soft tissue in-growth. We examined the effects of vibration transmission to the footplate of inserting cartilage of varying sizes, and materials of varying rigidities. Study design and setting Using fresh human cadaveric temporal bones, stapes vibrations were measured. A partial ossicular reconstruction prosthesis was covered with differing materials and cartilage sizes. Materials used included glass (rigid), cartilage (intermediate), and Merocel® (soft). Cartilage sizes varied in size relative to the prosthesis head. Results Rigidity of material had little impact. Cartilage size had an impact, with smaller cartilage covers performing best. Conclusion Larger cartilage sizes performed worse. This could be a result of increased tension on the eardrum from larger cartilage size. There is little impact stiffness of interposed material stiffness. Significance Cartilage of the size used clinically has little impact on vibration transmission to the footplate. A wide range of materials could clinically be interposed over the prosthesis.

Ossiculoplasty with total hydroxylapatite prostheses anatomical and functional outcomes.

To evaluate the results of partial and total ossicular reconstruction prostheses entirely made of hydroxylapatite. A retrospective review of cases followed-up between 1997 and 2000. Tertiary referral center. One hundred adult patients (60 men and 40 women) were studied. The mean age was 55 years (range, 25 to 65 years). Fifty patients had a previous tympanoplasty. The series included 45 cholesteatomas (45%), 37 chronic otitis media without cholesteatoma (37%), 13 retraction pockets (13%), and 5 posttraumatic ossicular displacements (5%). A one-stage ossiculoplasty with a partial ossicular reconstruction prosthesis (n = 65) or a total ossicular reconstruction prosthesis (n = 35) was performed. This was associated with a simple mastoidectomy in 70 cases and a radical mastoidectomy in 10 cases. All patients were followed-up at 1 year, and 50 were reexamined 2 years after surgery. Clinical and audiometric data were collected in a database at each visit. A prosthetic extrusion was noted in two cases (2%). A prosthetic displacement occurred in 10 cases (10%). A revision surgery was carried out in 10 cases because of an ossiculoplasty failure or a disease recurrence. At 1 year, the residual air-bone gap was lower in cases with a partial ossicular reconstruction prosthesis than those with a total ossicular reconstruction prosthesis (16 +/- 9.3 versus 23 +/- 13.7 dB, p < 0.05). The gain in mean air conduction threshold was 21 +/- 12.8 dB in cases of partial ossicular reconstruction prosthesis and 19 +/- 11.3 dB in cases of total ossicular reconstruction prosthesis (not significant). Revision surgery, canal wall-down mastoidectomy, or cholesteatoma yielded poorer functional results. Partial ossicular reconstruction prosthesis and total ossicular reconstruction prosthesis entirely made of dense hydroxylapatite yielded high rates of air-bone gap reduction and high anatomic stability.

Management of congenital atresia of the external auditory canal

The management of a unilateral congenital atresia of the external auditory canal is nonuniform and debated. Various surgical approaches, timing, coordination with microtia repair, and variable hearing improvements all contribute to the debate regarding management of this entity. This paper outlines our craniofacial team approach to the congenital unilateral atresia and microtia in children. Selection criteria, timing of repair, coordination with microtia repair, surgical results, and pitfalls will be discussed. The results of surgery in 16 patients with unilateral congenital atresia of the external auditory canal and 2 children with bilateral atresia will be presented. Repair of the atresia was undertaken in children 5 years or older who had pneumatized mastoids and middle ears. Replacement of the malleus/incus complex with a partial ossicular reconstruction prosthesis improved closure of the air-bone gap. Drawbacks included meatal stenosis and deepithelization of the split thickness skin graft lining the external auditory canal. Repair of the unilateral congenital atresia is a demanding and challenging problem but one in which excellent results are achievable. (Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1997;116:580-4.)