Comparative study of new autologous material, bone-cartilage composite graft, for ossiculoplasty with Polycel ® and Titanium.

OBJECTIVE: Ossiculoplasty is a surgical procedure that recreates sound transmission of the middle ear in conductive hearing loss. Various materials have been used for ossicular reconstruction, but the most ideal material for ossiculoplasty remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to introduce a novel method of autologous ossiculoplasty, bone-cartilage composite graft (BCCG) and to compare its surgical results with different types of ossiculoplastic prostheses.

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study was performed in a tertiary referral centre.

METHODS: Data of 275 patients who received ossiculoplasty using the three different materials of BCCG, Polycel® and titanium were analysed according to type of ossiculoplasty: partial or total ossicular replacement prosthesis (PORP or TORP). Hearing results, complication rates and clinical parameters including age, sex, past history, preoperative diagnosis and surgery type were compared among different groups.

RESULTS: Ossiculoplasty with BCCG showed satisfactory hearing outcomes and the lowest complication rate among the three different materials. In particular, its extrusion rate was 0%.

CONCLUSION: We propose that the BCCG technique is a useful alternative method for ossiculoplasty, with proper patient selection.