Conchal Cartilage Cap for Stapes Suprastructure: A Novel Approach to Hearing Reconstruction

Aim To present a newly devised method of designing conchal cartilage caps for stapes suprastructure applied for ossicular chain reconstruction in mastoid surgery and report the hearing results.

Materials and Methods We designed conchal cartilage caps (CCCs) to be fitted on stapes suprastructure for ossiculoplasty in cases of mastoid surgery and investigated the hearing outcome by comparing the pre- and postoperative air–bone gap (ABG) in patients who had undergone this surgery.

Results Patients who have undergone conchal cartilage cap ossiculoplasty for stapes suprastructure showed good hearing improvement. Postoperative follow-up of ABG for a period of 1 year in 23 patients demonstrated significant audiometrical improvement. There were no ABG of more than 30 dB and mean ABG of 20 dB was achieved for most of the cases.

Conclusion The technique of conchal cartilage cap for stapes suprastructure ossiculoplasty is a safe, simple, reliable, and effective procedure with an easy learning curve. Hearing results are satisfactory and comparable to other commonly applied techniques and materials. Compared with synthetic prostheses, conchal cartilage ossiculoplasty also offers better biocompatibility at no additional expenditure.

Clinical Significance Development of an undemanding, consistent and easily performed technique of ossiculoplasty using autologous cartilage at no extra cost provides another option in the armamentarium of an otologist for good hearing outcomes in mastoid surgery.