title: Phylogeny of the stapes prosthesis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To create the first ever stapes prosthesis phylogenetic tree for the evolution of the stapes prosthesis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective literature review, personal interviews.
  
  
  METHODS
  University Medical Center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  Construction of a stapes prosthesis phylogenetic tree with branches capable of including all stapes prostheses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred five different stapes prostheses were reviewed, starting with the first-ever prosthesis used in the first stapedectomy and continuing up to the present time. The stapes prosthesis family tree contains 4 main branches that allow for categorization of all the commercial prostheses currently used. Many examples of atavistic prostheses, single surgeon use, and dead-end characteristics exist.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An overview of the complicated phylogenetic tree for stapes prostheses gives great perspective to the history of stapedectomy and insights into many characteristics that are useful for designing new stapes prostheses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202, USA. mfritsch@iupui.edu
authors.forename: Michael H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Fritsch
authors.forename: Ilka C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Naumann
mesh_terms: D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D009998:Ossicular Prosthesis / Q000266:history*; D010040:Otosclerosis / Q000266:history* / Q000601:surgery; D011474:Prosthesis Design / Q000266:history*; D013201:Stapes Surgery / Q000266:history* / Q000295:instrumentation