[Application of hydroxyapatite in micro-otosurgery: experiment with guinea pigs and clinical application].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the feasibility of hydroxyapatite (HA) middle ear prostheses in otosurgery.

METHODS

In the animal experiment HA prostheses were put in the bilateral bullae of the ears of 12 healthy white guinea pigs (totally 24 ears). Three guinea pigs were killed every month 1-4 months later. Morphological examination and electron microscopy were conducted to observe grafts. In the clinical experiment HA prostheses was used in ossiculoplasty in 31 cases, reconstruction of posterior wall of external auditory canal in 5 cases, and mastoid obliteration in 11 cases.

RESULTS

The HA prostheses taken out from 23 ears of the guinea pigs were with normal and complete structure, and clear margin in gross anatomy and microscopically. Only one ear suffered infection. Follow-up or the patients for 1-4 years showed excellent healing of the operated parts and an improvement of hearing threshold by about 16 dBHL.

CONCLUSION

Hydroxyapatite with excellent physical and chemical properties and biological tolerance HA is a good material in ossiculoplasty, canaloplasty, mastoid obliteration, and other otological operations.