[Tympanoplasty with hybrid prostheses].
BACKGROUND
The retrospective study reviews the hearing results of partial and total ossicular replacement plasties with prostheses composed of a hydroxylapatite head and a trimmable shaft.


METHODS
71 patients underwent tympanoplasty type III between January 1996 and January 2002. The partial (PORP) (55 patients) and total ossicular replacement prostheses (TORP) (16 patients) were a composition of a hydroxylapatite head and a trimmable hydroxylapatite-polyethylene composite shaft (HAPEX ). Hearing results were evaluated according to the guidelines of the Committee on Hearing and Equilibrium.


RESULTS
In cases with a PORP the residual air-bone gap could be reduced to < or = 20 dB in 73% of the patients. The mean air-bone gap improved from 28 dB preoperatively to 17 dB postoperatively. In cases with a TORP the residual air-bone gap could be reduced to < or = 20 dB in 62% of the patients. The mean air-bone gap improved from 32 dB preoperatively to 20 dB postoperatively.


CONCLUSIONS
The hearing results with prostheses composed of a hydroxylapatite head and a trimmable shaft are good and comparable to the results of authors using other synthetic ossicular prostheses. These prostheses are time-saving because the trimmable shaft can be quickly cut and shortened to an individual length.
Neugebauer
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Klinik und Poliklinik für Hals-, Nasen-, Ohrenheilkunde, Klinikum der Universität zu Köln, Cologne. hno.neugebauer@uni-koeln.de
D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001309:Auditory Threshold / Q000502:physiology; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D001844:Bone Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D002516:Ceramics; D017886:Durapatite; D004427:Ear Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D009998:Ossicular Prosthesis; D020959:Polyethylene; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D017755:Prosthesis Fitting; D014433:Tympanoplasty / Q000295:instrumentation*
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D020959:Polyethylene; D017886:Durapatite