Behaviour of Bioimplants in the Middle Ear. an Experimental Study

Abstract

The introduction of tympanoplasty in the early fifties (1,2) was the starting point for the use of a large variety of materials to restore the sound-conducting system. In addition to autologous and preserved homologous tissues (3,4) also solid alloplasts have been introduced for ossicular chain reconstruction (5). However, up to the present the only satisfying long-term results have been obtained with teflon and metal wire prosthesis in stapessurgery (6). Failures with the solid prostheses used as columella between stapes and tympanic membrane were usually caused by displacement or protrusion through the tympanic membrane. Apart from the cytotoxic effects exerted by some of the implants these failures are at least partly caused by the lack of a firm biomechanical union between implant and tympanic membrane and to the local pressure exerted on the tympanic membrane.