Titanium ossicular chain replacement prostheses: Prognostic factors and preliminary functional results

Summary Objective To assess the efficiency of ossiculoplasty procedures with the Kurz titanium ossicular prosthesis and evaluate prognostic factors for the functional results. Methods Retrospective chart reviews were performed for ossiculoplasty involving Kurz titanium prostheses between 2006 and 2009 in the ENT Head and Neck Department of the hôpital Nord, Marseille, France. Results The population studied was 70 patients, with 37 procedures using the partial (PORP) and 33 the total ossicular replacement prosthesis (TORP). Mean follow-up was 9 months. Pre- and postoperative audiological parameters on four frequency averages (0.5, 1, 2, and 3 kHz) were compared according to AAO-HNS guidelines. A postoperative air-bone gap (ABG) ≤ 20 dB was obtained in 71.43% of the patients (86.49% for PORP, and 54.55% for TORP). The mean change in ABG was 12.45 dB in cholesteatomatous otitis versus 13.41 dB in non-cholesteatomatous otitis. Conclusion Increasing the length of the ossicular prosthesis, especially TORP, may improve postoperative functional results.