title: Double cartilage block ossiculoplasty in chronic ear surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Multiple techniques of ossicular reconstruction have been advocated for hearing rehabilitation in the setting of chronic otitis media No single method can adequately address the clinical spectrum of disease severity. In the situation of a severely diseased ear requiring a canal wall down (CWD) mastoidectomy in the presence of an intact stapes superstructure, the authors have employed a double cartilage block (DCB) ossiculoplasty. The technique and short-term results are reviewed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective chart review in a tertiary referral otologic practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-three patients underwent a CWD tympanomastoidectomy with DCB ossiculoplasty. Ages ranged from 6 to 85 years (mean, 36.1 y). The majority of ears were actively draining at the time of surgery (83%) and most procedures were revisions of prior mastoidectomies (74%). Audiometric data (mean postoperative follow-up, 19.5 mo) were calculated according to 1995 American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery guidelines.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Audiometric results were available in 20 patients. The mean air-bone gap (ABG) was 23.8 dB after surgery. Closure of the ABG to within 20 dB was achieved in 10 of 20 patients (50%). No cases of DCB extrusion have occurred to date.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The DCB represents an excellent alternative to biocompatible prostheses for ossicular reconstruction in the setting of severe chronic ear disease. As with all methods of ossiculoplasty, long-term follow-up will be necessary to determine if this technique remains stable in the hostile environment in which it has been employed.
authors.affiliation: Milwaukee Otologic, Hales Corners, Wisconsin 53130, USA.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Harvey
authors.forename: S Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001299:Audiometry; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004425:Ear Cartilage / Q000601:surgery*; D004429:Ear Ossicles / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006314:Hearing Loss, Conductive / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D019933:Ossicular Replacement; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000601:surgery*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome