The styloid process in ossicular chain reconstruction (a pilot study)

Our pilot study reports twenty-six cases of resolved chronic otitis media in which the human, cadaveric styloid process was used as an ossicular graft material. A maximum follow-up of one year is presented in this paper. There was no extrusion or rejection of the styloid processes. Hearing improvement with a closure of the air-bone gap to within 10-15 dB. of the pre-operative bone conduction was found in most cases. So far the styloid process has proved to be an ideal ossicular graft though the long-term results are yet to be seen.