Soft Tissue Reactions to Ceramic Ossicular Replacement Prostheses

Abstract

Soft tissue responses to Ceramic Ossicular Replacement Prostheses (CORP) were evaluated histologically in animals (rabbits) and humans. CORPs were surrounded by a layer of fibrous tissue without any foreign body giant cell, histiocyte or inflammatory cell infiltration after 3 months, although there were severe inflammatory and foreign body reactions at one week, and some inflammatory responses one month after implantation. CORPs implanted into the human middle ear were observed to be covered by a thin layer of connective tissue at revision surgery. Our satisfactory clinical results in humans without placing cartilage between the CORP and the fascia graft can be explained by the histological findings (excellent soft tissue compatibility of CORP) obtained in this study.