The use of allograft stapes

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Surgical Innovation
• Tissue Allografts

Background:

• The stapes allograft, sourced from the Hyogo Ear Bank since 1980, has been utilized in otologic surgery.
• Its application includes tympanoplasty and reconstruction for fixed stapes conditions (postinflammatory, congenital, otosclerotic).

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the efficacy of stapes allografts in various middle ear reconstructive procedures.
• To compare two distinct methods of positioning the donor stapes during surgery.
• To determine the optimal surgical approach for stapes allograft transplantation.

Main Methods:

• Utilized stapes allografts, alone or with homograft incus, in 27 cases (20 tympanoplasty, 7 fixed stapes).
• Employed two donor stapes positioning techniques: normal position and inverted position.
• Evaluated outcomes based on surgical approach and stapes placement.

Main Results:

• The normal positioning of the allograft stapes demonstrated superior surgical results compared to the inverted position.
• A two-stage surgical approach, involving initial myringoplasty followed by ossiculoplasty with the allograft stapes, proved more effective than a one-stage procedure.

Conclusions:

• Stapes allografts are a viable option for middle ear reconstruction, particularly when placed in the normal anatomical position.
• A staged surgical approach enhances outcomes in stapes allograft procedures.
• The findings support the use of allograft stapes in specific otologic reconstructive scenarios.