Ossiculoplasty in the Setting of Erosive Middle Ear Disease

Erosive middle ear disease (EMED) involves a spectrum of otologic conditions that involve chronic inflammatory processes, including chronic otitis media with or without cholesteatoma, that contribute to osseous erosion of the middle ear and ossicular chain. Treatment of EMED involves the eradication of the disease followed by ossicular chain reconstruction to optimize hearing outcomes. There are many challenges regarding ossiculoplasty in EMED, including the potential for microscopic residual disease, variability of ossicular chain status following disease eradication, and concern for recurrent disease processes.