Thirty-two patient (36 ears) received stapes surgery from 1989 to 1991. Ten ears, receivedstapedectomy with a autograft cartilage strut, consisted of otosclerosis (6 ears), otosclerosis reoperation (3 ears) and ossicular displacement by injury (1 ear). Twenty-six ears, received stapedotomy with a T eflon piston wire, were all otosclerosis. The postoperative hearing results were evaluated one year afterthe surgery. The air-conduction hearing gains (Mean±S. D.) of speech frequencies were 23.9±13.4 dBin stapedectomy using a cartilage strut and 28.4±9.4 dB in stapedotomy using a Teflon piston wire. Bothhearing results were not significantly different (unpaired two way t-test).
The cartilage strut is recommended in place of the Teflon piston wire when the incus is lost or when anappropriate piston wire is not available.
