title: Audiometric results of TORP and PORP middle ear reconstruction.
abstract: The results of 70 middle ear reconstructions using either total or partial ossicular replacement prostheses are presented, the mean observation period being 45 months. Twenty-seven of the prostheses (39%) were extruded, this occurring as late as 72 months after surgery, and four (6%) were removed at reoperation. The surgical results when assessed by the magnitude of the air-bone gap are comparable to those of other series in the literature. However, postoperative air conduction thresholds remained high, and 23% of the patients are using hearing aids. The average air-bone gap for the frequencies 0.5, 1, and 2 kHz does not provide information on patients' everyday hearing level, and should no longer be employed as an index for assessing the functional results of middle ear surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Tromsø, Norway.
authors.forename: I W
authors.initials: IW
authors.lastname: Mair
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pedersen
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Laukli
mesh_terms: D001299:Audiometry; D001844:Bone Conduction; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D009998:Ossicular Prosthesis; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D012086:Reoperation; D013997:Time Factors; D014433:Tympanoplasty