Functional results of plastipore prostheses for middle ear ossicular chainreconstruction

Objective: Assessment of plastipore prostheses for middle ear ossicular cha in reconstruction. Hearing results with total and partial Plastipore ossicu lar replacement prostheses (TORP and PORP) were evaluated in open- and clos ed-cavity operations. Study Design: A retrospective review of 237 patients who underwent operation for chronic ear disease as well as ossiculoplasty w ith plastipore prostheses. In order to assess the functional results, only 156 of 237 patients were included in the study. Follow-up ranged from 6 to 46 months. Methods: Canal wall up and canal wall down operations were perfo rmed. Either TORP or PORP ossiculoplasty was performed in each operation. A n air-bone gap closure to within 20 dB was considered successful. Results: With TORPs, the air-bone gap closure to within 20 dB was achieved in 43.1%, and similar results were obtained with PORPs in 63.3%. In canal wall do cv n and canal wall up operations, the success rates were 55.8% and 55.7%, res pectively. The best results were obtained with PORPs in canal wall down ope rations, with a success rate of 82%. The extrusion rate of the prostheses w as 4.2%. Conclusion: Hearing results of PORPs are better than TORPs, In can al wall up and canal wall down operations similar hearing results are obtai ned. PORP ossiculoplasty in a canal wall down operation yields the most fav orable hearing result.