"Tumulus" stabilization of a total ossicular replacement prosthesis

Functional failure of total ossicular replacement prostheses (TORP) is often due to secondary displacement, ranging from simple subluxation to prosthesis extrusion following recurrence of severe tympanic membrane retraction. Several surgical techniques have been proposed to stabilize a TORP, mostly using superimposed non-organic or resorbable heterologous materials. We describe a simple so-called "tumulus" surgical technique that limits prosthesis displacement and extrusion, regardless of the type of TORP, by using a few fragments of autologous cartilage that are always available and perfectly tolerated at no cost. Review of 31 cases treated by this technique did not reveal any cases of prosthesis displacement and only one case (3.2%) of prosthesis extrusion with audiometric results comparable to the best results reported in the literature.