Preliminary functional results of tympanoplasty with titanium prostheses.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the use of titanium prostheses in tympanoplasty for reconstruction of the sound pressure and to evaluate the audiometric results obtained.


METHODS
and patients Retrospective chart review in a tertiary referral center. Between September 1998 and October 2000, 23 titanium middle ear implants (23 TORP) were used for reconstruction of the ossicular chain after tympanomastoidectomy. Preliminary functional results were obtained in 23 cases.


RESULTS
Average follow-up time was 18 months (range, 12-40) and no adverse reactions or extrusions occurred. Seven of 16 canal wall down tympanoplasties (43.7%), and 3 of 7 canal wall up tympanoplasties performed (42.9%) had a postoperative air-bone gap of between 0 and 10 dB.


CONCLUSIONS
Preliminary results show that titanium prosthesis provide a promising hearing result after total ossicular reconstruction, although long-term results are not yet available. The low weight of these prostheses may be the reason for the decrease in the air-bone gap.
Menéndez-Colino
L M
LM
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Barcelona 08036, Spain.
Bernal-Sprekelsen
M
M
Alobid
I
I
Traserra-Coderch
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001299:Audiometry; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D018424:Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013506:Otologic Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation / Q000295:instrumentation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014025:Titanium / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014433:Tympanoplasty / Q000295:instrumentation*
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D014025:Titanium