Autologous ossiculoplasty following temporal bone fracture.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the outcomes of autologous ossiculoplasty following temporal bone fracture.

METHODS

We analysed 10 patients who underwent autologous ossiculoplasty following temporal bone fracture from 1993 to 2006. Average results for air conduction, bone conduction and air-bone gap were calculated, using both a three- and a four-frequency average, in order to evaluate the effect of the operation.

RESULTS

The average follow-up time was 24.4 months. Dislocation of the incus was the most common operative finding. The average three- and four-frequency post-operative air-bone gaps were 12.0 dB (standard deviation 8.3) and 13.8 dB (standard deviation 7.7), respectively. The average air-bone gap improvements were 24.5 dB (standard deviation 13.8) and 24.4 dB (standard deviation 12.1), respectively. Eighty per cent (eight of 10) of the patients had socially acceptable hearing in the operated ear. However, only 50 per cent achieved closure of the air-bone gap to within 10 dB.

CONCLUSION

Methods of maximising the stability of the reconstructed ossicular chain should be further studied.