Biocompatible ossicular implants.

Proplast and Plastipore, two new biocompatible implant materials that encourage tissue ingrowth, were used in 225 tympanoplasties. A 12 to 28-month follow-up shows that in 133 tympanoplasties using a drum-to-footplate or total ossicular replacement prosthesis (TORP), there was an average air conduction gain of 19 dB and 65% closure of the air-bone gap to within 20 dB. In 17 tympanoplasties using a drum-to-stapes or partial ossicular replacement prosthesis (PORP), there was an average air conduction gain of 20 dB and 100% closure of the air-bone gap. In 53 tympanoplasties/mastoidectomies using a TORP, there was an average air conduction gain of 19 dB and 87% closure of the air-bone gap. In 22 tympanoplasties mastoidectomies using a PORP, there was an average air conduction gain of 25 dB and 100% closure of the air-bone gap. Five (2.2%) of the 225 Plastipore prostheses have extruded.