Bioactive glass ceramic: a new material in tympanoplasty.

The practicability of the bioactive glass ceramic Ceravital in ear surgery was tested in animals. The histological findings are presented. Over the last 3 years implants of bioactive glass ceramic were used in humans. Prostheses for the total or partial reconstruction of the ossicular chain and the reconstruction of the bony wall of the outer ear canal were fashioned. We have conducted about 300 tympanoplasties and 60 total or partial reconstructions of the bony wall of the outer ear canal. The otoscopic and functional results were satisfactory.