Use of costal cartilage in middle ear surgery.

Use of costal cartilage in middle ear surgery. Tympanic membrane retraction often occurs in otologic pathology. In an effort to reduce this pathology, the surgical procedure considered incorporates the use of a new material which diminishes retraction and allows freer movement of the eardrum. Since 1991, we have been using costal cartilage allograft obtained from donors and treated to prevent disease transmission. The allografts were used for tympanoplasty, retraction pockets and attic reconstruction. More than 150 patients were treated and the results evaluated in order to determine the indications of this new material.