Hearing results after ossiculoplasty using Polycel prosthesis.

CONCLUSIONS: Polycel is an effective material to use in ossiculoplasty. Good prognostic factors for hearing improvement after ossiculoplasty were healthy middle ear mucosa and the presence of stapes superstructure.

OBJECTIVE: During the last decade, the surgical use of alloplasts has become increasingly widespread among otologists. This study aimed to evaluate the hearing results after ossiculoplasty using Polycel prosthesis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 188 patients who underwent ossicular chain reconstruction using Polycel prosthesis and were followed up postoperatively for more than 12 months at Severance Eye-ENT Hospital from 1998 to 2002. Postoperative hearing results were assessed by measuring the postoperative air-bone gap (ABG) and closure of the ABG. Successful postoperative ABG criteria were defined as the following three measurements: ABG of <or=10 dB, ABG of <or=20 dB, and ABG of <or=30 dB. Several prognostic factors were analyzed, including the condition of the middle ear mucosa and ossicles, the presence or absence of cholesteatoma, surgical method, and staging and revision surgery.

RESULTS: Of the 188 cases, 22 cases (11.7%) showed an ABG of <or=10 dB, 96 cases (51.1%) presented with an ABG of <or=20 dB, and 158 cases (84.0%) had an ABG of <or=30 dB. In cases with healthy middle ear mucosa and the presence of stapes superstructure, the hearing results were good.