The Ossicle-Cup Prosthesis: Five Years Later

Abstract

The osslcle-cup prosthesis is a semibiologic prosthesis that incorporates a synthetic portion into the remaining (or transplant) ossicle. This assembly is positioned on the stapes capitulum, with the synthetic cup forming a dynamic joint. During 1978, 114 patients underwent surgical procedures in which an ossicle cup prosthesis was used. After I year 84% of these patients were within 20 dB of their preoperative bone hearing levels. Patients with a concurrent mastoidectomy did worse than those who underwent only a tympanoossiculoplasty. Five years later, 74% of the successful cases were still within 20 dB of the preoperative hearing levels. Eighteen patients underwent a revision surgical procedure to regain hearing. The postoperative hearing results at 1 year were 50% within 20 dB. The causes of failure included further ossicle necrosis (28%), a laterally healed tympanic membrane (39%), and fixation of the prosthesis (33%). Extrusion of the prosthesis during the 5-year period was between 1% and 2%. Overall, the ossicle cup prosthesis has proved to be a stable assembly, easy to revise, and longlasting. Once successful, three of four cases will retain successful hearing for more than 5 years.