[The use of a chondro-metallic prosthesis when the ossicular chain is destroyed (author's transl)]

The author describes a new prosthesis used in functional rehabilitation when the chain is destroyed. It consists of a tripod part in gold, anchored in the attic region with its foot resting on the plate of the stapes. This prosthesis is covered with a piece of autologous cartilage freshly removed from the tragus which forms the junction with the tympanic membrane or covering fascia. 60 cases are presented, some with a follow-up of 4 years. All of the patients were suffering from the sequelae of chronic otorrhoea, with varying degress of destruction of the chain and tympanic membrane, leaving a mobile plate. Functional rehabilitation in one stage was good in 66% of cases, poor in more than 8% of cases and nil in 25% of cases. Tolerance of the prosthesis was comparable to that of other metallic or plastic materials used in the middle ear. The plate of the stapes would appear to tolerate the prosthesis perfectly since no secondary labyrinthisation was seen. The author suggests the use of this chondro-metallic prosthesis was a reliable means of ensuring functional rehabilitation in the presence of a post-otitic empty middle ear.