Silastic coated incus in tympanoplasty: a preliminary report

In 54 ears lacking the stapedial arch and the long process of the incus, ossiculoplasty was performed with a shaped auto- or homologous incus as columella. In 29 of the ears, the deep, slender part of the columella was coated with a silastic tube in order to prevent adhesions and dislocation. One year after the operation the functional results were similar in patients with silastic coating of the incus to those without. It is concluded that the less satisfactory results of tympanoplasty in such ears are primarily caused by factors outside the niche of the oval window. Possible ways of improving the results are discussed.