Titanium Ossicular Replacement Prosthesis Research Articles

Comparison of hearing outcome using ossiculoplasty with autologous incus versus titanium prosthesis

<p><strong>Background: </strong>The aim of the study is to compare the efficacy of autologous incus versus allogenic titanium prosthesis in terms of anatomical results, hearing gain after surgery, operative course and complications.</p><p><strong>Methods:</strong> This is a prospective interventional study of 20 patients out of which 10 underwent autologus incus and 10 underwent titanium prosthesis ossiculoplasties performed between April 2018 To April 2019 in Government Kilpauk medical college and hospital, Chennai after ethical clearance. The postoperative improvement of mean air-bone gap and air conduction over same frequencies between the two groups were studied. A improvement in pure tone average more than 10 dB was considered successful.</p><p><strong>Results:</strong> In current study, 10 patients underwent ossiculoplasties using titanium ossicular replacement prosthesis and 10 patients underwent ossiculoplasties using autologous incus. 5 of the patients in each group underwent canal wall up and 5 underwent canal wall down procedure. The average ABG closure was 9.30 dB in incus group and 15.22 dB in titanium group.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Titanium ossicular prosthesis ossiculoplasties provide a significant hearing gain and are advantageous because of the easy insertion with pre-sculpted structure yet the cost is a concern. Better results were noted in canal wall up procedures more than canal wall down procedures.</p>

To Evaluate and Compare the Result of Ossiculoplasty Using Different Types of Graft Materials and Prosthesis in Cases of Ossicular Discontinuity in Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media Cases.

Chronic suppurative otitis media, with and without cholesteatoma, frequently results in disruption of the ossicular chain. The present study was designed to compare the outcome using autologous ossicle and titanium prosthesis in two groups of suitable patients presenting with chronic suppurative otitis media for middle ear reconstructive surgeries. A prospective study done from July 2012 to December 2013, at Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Hospital, Sitapura, Jaipur (Rajasthan). The target group included patients with chronic suppurative otitis media admitted and planned for reconstructive middle ear surgery. The study group patients among the target group requiring certain ossicular reconstruction. The patients included were patients with CSOM with or without cholesteatoma in which there was ossicular discontinuity. The patients were divided in two groups A and B. In group A patients autologous incus was used and in group B titanium prosthesis either TORP or PORP was used for ossicular replacement. Out of 340 patients as target group, 88 patients were included in study group. Further 88 patients of study group, 51 patients were included in group A; rest 37 patients were included in group B. In group B patients partial ossicular replacement platinum prosthesis was used in 31 patients while in rest 6 patients a total ossicular replacement prosthesis was used. Out of 88 patients, 79 were primary cases and 9 were revision cases. Pre and post operative air bone gap were noted. Pre operatively both of the groups were identical in relation to air-bone gap. The postoperative air-bone gap was calculated as the difference between postoperative air conduction and preoperative bone conduction. On comparison of preoperative and post-operative hearing results there was improvement in air conduction threshold and air bone gap in both the groups. Post operatively difference in air bone gap closure between group A and group B was found statistically significant (P value=0.032) suggesting better hearing outcomes after using titanium ossicular replacement prosthesis. On comparing partial or total ossicular replacement prosthesis no significant difference was found for the audiological outcome (P=0.434). Various prognostic factors were also noted for air bone gap closure. Titanium ossicular replacement prosthesis have better outcome, and no significant difference found in audiological outcome for TORP and PORP.

Titanium ball joint total ossicular replacement prosthesis – Experimental evaluation and midterm clinical results

During reconstruction of the ossicular chain, there is a need to address the forces and loads caused by the ambient atmospheric pressure variations and the resulting tympanic membrane movements. It is understood that when a rigid middle ear prosthesis is inserted the malleoincudal joint, a keyfactor in controlling pressure variations in the middle ear space is bypassed. In this paper we describe a modified total titanium ossicular replacement prosthesis with an innovative micro ball joint in the headplate which is designed to compensate for tympanic membrane movements caused by atmospheric pressure variations. The characteristics of this modified prosthesis were examined in temporal bone experiments and compared to the standard titanium total ossicular reconstruction prosthesis. Sound-induced stapes footplate movements were investigated by means of a Laser vibrometer and revealed no significant differences between the two prostheses in vitro. Intraoperatively, the insertion of the modified prosthesis required more delicate handling. The angle between the shaft and the headplate was variable and ranged from 60 to 90° as estimated by the surgeon. Twelve consecutive patients were eligible for clinical evaluation. The pure tone average (PTA) air-bone gap after a mean follow up period of 32 months was 18.8 dB. Furthermore, no extrusion, dislocation or other adverse events were observed. We conclude that the modified total ossicular replacement prosthesis with integrated micro ball joint yields similar volume velocities of the stapes footplate in the laboratory experiments compared to the standard rigid prosthesis. The audiological and morphological results are encouraging and show that the mobile prosthesis headplate adjusting to the level of the tympanic membrane is a further step in the development of a physiological middle ear implant.This article is part of a Special Issue entitled “MEMRO 2012”.

Hearing results using titanium ossicular replacement prosthesis in intact canal wall tympanoplasty for cholesteatoma

Conclusions: Titanium proved to be a valuable alternative to ossicles in ossiculoplasty procedures. Complication rates are comparable to those obtained by other authors with titanium and nontitanium prostheses. Hearing results were worse compared with other reports; however, no conclusion can be drawn on the basis of the literature because of the heterogeneity of the populations studied. Objectives: To evaluate the results and complications of total (TORP) and partial (PORP) titanium ossicular replacement prostheses in middle ear cholesteatoma. Methods: Fifty-seven patients affected by acquired cholesteatoma of the middle ear undergoing titanium ossiculoplasty during second stage intact canal wall tympanoplasty were evaluated. Postoperative hearing gain, complication rate, and revision rate were analyzed. Results: Average postoperative gain was 13.6 dB HL for PORP and 17.9 dB HL for TORP. After ossicular reconstruction the mean postoperative ABG was 24.1 dB HL in PORPs and 27.2 dB HL in TORPs. The difference in air-bone gap (ABG) between the two groups after ossiculoplasty was not significant. The number of patients with an ABG > 30 dB was higher in the TORP group compared with the PORP group (p = 0.024) after ossicular reconstruction. The total extrusion rate was 5.2% and the total revision rate was 10.5%.

Long-Term Results of Palisade Cartilage Tympanoplasty

Evaluation of morphologic and functional long-term results of palisade cartilage tympanoplasty (PCT) combined with titanium ossicular replacement prostheses. Retrospective review of tympanoplasties. Tertiary referral center. Twenty-nine patients (12 women and 17 men; mean age, 39 yr; range, 17-72 yr) operated on more than 9 years ago (mean follow up, 9.1 yr) because of cholesteatoma, adhesive otitis, chronic otitis media, subtotal tympanic membrane defects, and tympanic fibrosis requiring tympanoplasty. Tympanoplasty, applying the PCT. For ossiculoplasty, total or partial titanium ossicular replacement prostheses were used. Questionnaire on postoperative course, otoscopic findings, and hearing results using a 4-frequency pure-tone average air-bone gap. A recurrent defect was not observed. The graft take rate was 100%. There was one case of prosthesis protrusion which required revision surgery and insertion of a shorter prosthesis. A pure-tone average air-bone gap of 0 to 10 dB was seen preoperatively in 1 ear, 11 to 30 dB in 16 ears, and 31 to 59 dB in 12 ears. Postoperatively, the corresponding numbers were 10, 15, and 4 ears. The PCT is a reliable surgical method to manage difficult middle ear pathology on a long-term (>9 yr) basis. It offers satisfactory morphologic and functional results in combination with titanium prosthesis ossiculoplasty.

Titanium vs Hydroxyapatite Ossiculoplasty in Canal Wall Down Mastoidectomy

To report hearing results using a titanium ossicular replacement prosthesis during canal wall down mastoidectomy with tympanoplasty to treat cholesteatoma. Retrospective medical record review. Referral university hospital. Patients with cholesteatoma treated with primary or revision canal wall down mastoidectomy with tympanoplasty in a single stage. Patients with implanted hydroxyapatite prostheses composed a matched control group. Medical records were reviewed for type of ossicular condition, type of prosthesis, and hearing threshold at 1-year follow-up. Results are reported as the 5-frequency average air conduction gain, bone conduction gain, and air-bone gap. The malleus handle was present in 24 patients, and the stapes superstructure in 22 patients. Mean (SD) air conduction gain was 7.6 (14.7) dB (P = .001); it was 8.7 (12.0) dB in the group with titanium prostheses and 6.3 (17.4) dB in the group with hydroxyapatite prostheses (P = .54). Bone conduction gain was 1.1 (4.9) dB (P = .19). No patients experienced postoperative impairment of bone threshold greater than 5 dB. Postoperative air-bone gap was 26.5 (15.3) dB; it was 23.8 (15.7) dB in the titanium group and 29.8 (14.6) dB in the hydroxyapatite group (P = .18). Air-bone gap closure was 40%; it was 46.2% in the titanium group and 33.3% in the hydroxyapatite group (P = .35). Titanium is a satisfactory material for use in ossicular reconstruction and is comparable to hydroxyapatite, although at present, no definitive conclusion about the superiority of titanium can be drawn.

Hydroxyapatite Versus Titanium Ossiculoplasty

To compare the results of ossicular chain reconstruction using hydroxyapatite (HA) and titanium (TI) prostheses. Retrospective study and case series. Tertiary referral center. One hundred sixty-eight patients presenting chronic otitis media with or without cholesteatoma. Ossiculoplasty using partial or total HA and TI ossicular replacement prostheses (TORP and PORP, respectively). Patients were assessed at 2 months postoperatively to establish short-term results. Results of treatment for conductive hearing loss were reported according to guidelines. Available audiometric data at 1, 2, 3, and 5 years were used to assess prosthesis stability. Average postoperative air-conduction gain, air-bone gap, and sensorineural hearing level were measured at four frequencies: 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz. Statistical analyses compared outcomes for HA TORP versus TI TORP and HA PORP versus TI PORP. Postoperative air-bone gap of less than 20 dB was obtained in 50% of HA TORP versus 45.8% of TI TORP cases and in 63.2% of HA PORP versus 72% of TI PORP cases. Preoperative middle ear status and presence/absence of malleus significantly influenced postoperative audiometric results. All types of prosthesis demonstrated significant postoperative air-conduction gain decrease on follow-up. Prosthesis exclusion was observed in three cases (1.78%). Prostheses using both types of biomaterial gave good functional results and stability with low exclusion rates, with no statistically significant differences between the two. Trends could be observed for slightly better results for HA in total reconstruction and for TI in partial reconstruction. The degradation in postoperative functional gain seemed to be independent of prosthesis type.

Hearing results with the titanium ossicular replacement prostheses

The purpose was to study the hearing results in patients receiving a Kurz titanium Bell partial ossicular replacement prosthesis (PORP) or an Aerial total ossicular replacement prosthesis (TORP). The study was a retrospective chart review in a tertiary otologic referral center. A computerized otologic database was used to identify 111 patients implanted with either a PORP or TORP prosthesis. Audiograms were reviewed and air-bone gaps were calculated for each patient. The improvement of the average air-bone gap (ABG) was 10.2 and 12.7 dB at 3 and 20 months after ossiculoplasty, respectively. Sixty-six percent of patients (73/111) had a postoperative air-bone gap of 20 dB or less. The ABG for the titanium PORP prosthesis was 14.3+/-9.7 dB, compared with 25.2+/-13.7 dB for the TORP prosthesis (P <0.05). The ABG to within 20 dB or less was obtained in the PORP group in 77% of the cases, versus 52% of the cases in the TORP group (P <0.05). Two extrusions of the prostheses were observed at 17 and 20 months after surgery (1.8%). Revision procedures for functional failure were carried out in 20 patients (18%). The rate of sensorineural hearing loss was 3.6%. The major factors influencing good audiometric results were the surgical procedure preserving the external auditory canal and the presence of the stapes. The best hearing results were achieved when a PORP was used in an intact canal wall (ICW) procedure, and the worst hearing results were achieved when a TORP was used in a canal wall down (CWD) procedure. The titanium Kurz prosthesis has been an effective implant at our institution for ossicular reconstruction.