Semibiologic middle ear prostheses: ossicle cup and ossicle columella.
As a natural step in ossicular reconstruction technique, two semibiologic prostheses are introduced. The prosthesis designed for incus replacement is called the "ossicle cup." A hole is drilled in the body of an incus or head of the malleus, and the synthetic shaft of the ossicle cup is placed into the hole. The synthetic cup fits over the stapes capitulum, forming a joint. The ossicle keeps the synthetic portion from touching the tympanic membrane. The prosthesis designed for total ossicular replacement is called the "ossicle columella." In like manner, the shaft is inserted into a shaped ossicle and placed on the remaining footplate. The ossicle columella has a synthetic footplate that rests on the remaining footplate and provides stability and safety. The adaptability of the semibiologic prostheses solves the problems of a laterally healed tympanic membrane, absent stapes capitulum, remaining footplate crura, low-lying stapes, and retracted malleus. The hearing results of the ossicle cup prosthesis indicate 87% of cases with successful hearing at one year. The ossicle columella results in 71% of cases with successful hearing at one year. To date, the extrusion rate is less than 1%.