Late results of tympanoplasty using ossicle or cortical bone

Hearing results are presented for 164 ears with chronic otitis media which were operated on radically and obliterated with a musculo-periosteal flap (Palva flap), and in which tympanoplasty was performed. The ears were followed-up annually for 5-13 years (mean 6.8 years). Results are compared with the method of ossiculoplasty and with the condition of the stapes superstructure at operation. Ossiculoplasty using autogenous cortical bone columellas resulted in a somewhat greater improvement in the post-operative air-bone gap than ossiculoplasty with auto- or homo-graft ossicles, when compared with the pre-operative gap. Similarly, the post-operative gap improved more in ears with an intact stapes superstructure than in ears in which the stapes superstructure was absent. The use of an autogenous cortical bone columella can be recommended in cases in which the patient's own ossicles are affected by disease and cannot be used.