Use of presculpted, banked cartilage transplants in ossicular reconstruction

Ossicular reconstruction was performed in 102 ears using homologous, costochondral cartilage. The cartilage was presculpted into a total ossicular replacement or partial ossicular replacement configuration by a tissue bank and stored for later use. The performed transplants were further shaped in the operating room to suit the anatomical findings during tympanoplasty. The postoperative hearing results as determined by the airbone gap were comparable with those obtained with alloplastic materials (mean gap, 18.6 dB). No extrusions occurred; an analysis of hearing after three years showed that 96.7% of the initial hearing improvement was maintained in 51 ears available for study. Homologous cartilage in the total ossicular replacement or partial ossicular replacement configuration is as effective as alloplastic materials in ossicular reconstruction and it does not resorb or extrude with time.