OBJECTIVE

To compare the anatomical and functional results of the ossicular chain reconstruction with classic titanium adjustable prostheses and titanium adjustable prostheses with hydroxyapatite cap.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The 300 patients (360 cases) with chronic suppurative otitis media were examined and operated. The patients are divided into 2 groups. Group A included patients who received an ossicular prosthesis with a hydroxyapatite cap (90 cases with a partial prosthesis and 90 with a full one). Group B included patients who received prostheses without hydroxyapatitis (90 cases with a partial prosthesis and 90 with a complete one). The patients who received a prosthesis with a hydroxyapatite cap were divided into two subgroups, depending on the autotissue, which was placed between the prosthesis cap and the nontympanic membrane: this is an autocartilage plate or perichondrium/fascial graft. The follow-up period after surgery was 38.5±14.4 months (from 12 to 48 months). In the long-term postoperative period, the subjects were assessed the values of the bone-air gap (BAG), the consistency of the nontympanic membrane, and the presence of signs of extrusion of the prosthesis cap. Comparison of anatomical and functional results between patients with full and partial ossicular prostheses was performed separately.

RESULTS

A good result in the form of a 20 dB or more dB BAG reduction was achieved in 82.2% of patients who received a partial prosthesis (85 patients in group A and 63 in group B), and in 57.8% of patients who received a complete prosthesis (45 patients in group A and 59 in group B). The BAG values in the long-term period after surgery did not statistically significantly differ between patients who received a prosthesis with a hydroxyapatite cap or a fully titanium one (p=0.939 for patients with full prostheses and p=0.745 for patients with partial prostheses). The placement of cartilage or perichondrium/fascial graft between the hydroxyapatite prosthesis cap and the nontympanic membrane also did not affect the functional outcome (with full prostheses — p=0.651, with partial prostheses — p=0.142).

CONCLUSION

It is possible to use ossicular prostheses with a hydroxyapatite cap without placing an autocartilaginous plate between the nontympanic membrane and the cap of the prosthesis. In the long term period, functional and anatomical results with hydroxyapatite cap prostheses do not differ statistically significantly from those with all-titanium prostheses.