Comparison of Surgical Outcomes Between Ossicle-Cartilage Composite Graft and Synthetic Ossicular Prosthesis for Ossicular Reconstruction.

Objective: To propose a modified technique of ossiculoplasty using an ossicle-cartilage composite graft (OCCG) and compare its hearing outcome and protrusion rate with those of a synthetic prosthesis.

Methods: Autologous tragal or homologous septal cartilage was combined with an ossicle to create an umbrella shape OCCG. A total of 302 ossiculoplasty surgeries performed in a single university hospital between 1997 and 2006 were retrospectively reviewed based on the prosthesis type-OCCG or polymaleinate ionomeric prosthesis (IONOS^®). Data includes demographic profiles, audiometric outcomes, intraoperative findings, and post-operative complications and was categorized by the follow-up periods.

Results: Ossicle-cartilage composite graft was used for 175 patients and IONOS^® for 127 patients. The mean post-operative air-bone gap (ABG) of the OCCG group was 22.36 dB, which was better than the IONOS^® group of 25.08 dB (P = .015). The successful ABG closure rate of less than 20 dB was also higher in the OCCG group compared to the IONOS^® group (38.3% vs 26.8%, P = .036). The ABG between the pre- and post-operative conditions exhibited a significant difference between the 2 groups (P = .006). In the data divided into 3 groups according to the follow-up period, the OCCG group showed a better outcome in the long-term follow-up with 0 cases of protrusion during the follow-up period in the OCCG group compared to 8 cases of the IONOS^® group (P = .018).

Conclusion: Ossiculoplasty with OCCG exhibited satisfactory audiometric outcomes and low complication rates. Ossicle-cartilage composite graft can be a good option with sufficient informed consent and preliminary screening of transmitted diseases.