[Reconstruction of the ossicular chain (author's transl)]

197 consecutive tympanoplasties involving reconstruction of the ossicular chain were analyzed. After a one-year followup, the interposition of a homologous ossicle between the mobile stapes and the long process of the malleus with intact anterior half of the drum has given a satisfactory result in 93% of the patients. Unsatisfactory results were obtained in 50% of those patients presenting with only the stapes or its footplate intact. Reasons for the failures were: graft lateralisation, fixation, atrophy or displacement of the homologous ossicle used. The twostage tympanoplasty with utilisation of John Shea's TORP prosthesis has considerably improved the hearing result achieved in the second category of patients. One has to await, however, long-term results in order to assess whether or not the TORP Plastipore prosthesis should be recommended in middle ear surgery.