Linear transmission between malleus and stapes in cases with incus necrosis

The outcome of cartilage interposition ossiculoplasty was assessed in cases of incus necrosis after posterior malleus repositioning in the plane of the stapes, in terms of hearing gain after ossicular reconstruction.

A retrospective observational study was conducted of 30 patients admitted to an Ain Shams University hospital from March 2021 to September 2021. All patients with ossicular disruption due to chronic suppurative otitis media and hearing loss of more than 40 dB were included in the study. Pure tone audiometry was conducted for each patient after three months, six months and one year post operation.

The audiogram showed a post-operative air-bone gap of 20 dB or less in 83.33 per cent of patients (n = 25) at three months post-operatively and in 80 per cent of patients after six months; after one year, the results remained the same.

The use of cartilage interposition after malleus posterior mobilisation represents an excellent partial ossicular replacement technique.