[Tympanic-ossicular reconstruction. Functional results using cartilage palisades and titanium prostheses]

The Eustachian tube disfunction and abnormalities in gas exchange through the middle ear mucosa may produce negative pressure and retraction pockets, adhesions, atelectasis and cholesteatomas. If this problem is present postoperatively, it may again lead to retraction, reperforation, and/or extrusion of the reconstructed ossicular chain. This applies especially if conventional autologous material, such as fascia and perichondrium, are used to reconstruct the tympanic membrane. This paper reviews the indications, surgical technique, and functional results of 23 tympanoplasties using cartilage and titanium prostheses, with range follow-up of 20-55 months and a mean of 30 months. Seven out of sixteen canal wall down (43.7%) and three out seven canal wall up (42.9%) had a postoperative air-bone gap between 0 and 10 dB.