Abstract
Tympanoplasty was performed using apatite ceramic artificial ossicles in 36 cases (27 cases with cholesteatoma and 9 without). Type 3 tympanoplasty using apatite ceramic ossicle was performed in 34 cases and type 4 in 2 cases. Staged operations were performed in child cases with cholesteatoma. In cholesteatoma cases the opened cavity was obliterated by inserting pieces of tragal cartilage, homograft septal cartilage or porous apatite ceramics into the attic and antrum mastoideum, after taking down the posterior wall and bridge, leaving the canal skin intact. Postoperative hearing level was within 30 dB in 89.0% of the non-cholesteatoma cases, while it was within 40 dB in 57.6% of the cholesteatoma cases.
Upon applying the apatite ceramics, it is important to prevent extrusion of the artificial ossicle by inserting a cartilage between the graft and the ossicle.
