Preliminary ossiculoplasty results using the kurz® titanium middle ear implants

Heylbroeck Ph., De Vel E., Dhooge I.

Published: 24th Politzer Meeting 31 August – 4 September 2003, Amsterdam, the Netherlands: Selected abstracts

Titanium has been an accepted prosthetic material for decades in craniofacial and orthopaedic surgery. The last decennium, studies were published reporting the results of titanium prostheses used for ossiculoplasty. The new. lightweight titanium prostheses are designed to maximize visualization of the capitulum and footplate region. Mechanically they are characterized by a high degree of rigidity and low weight. Acoustically they have low sound damping, low acoustic impedance, and a second resonance that might increase to broadband frequency transmission. These characteristics suggest the possibility of improved signal transfer in the main speech frequencies at around 2 kHz. A prospective clinical study was started to evaluate the efficacy of the variable
(= adjustable length) Tübingen titanium prosthesis (TTP-Vario). Twenty patients were evaluated. A canal wall up procedure was performed in 3 cases, a canal wall down procedure in 17 cases. A postoperative air bone gap of < 20 dB was obtained in 60% of bell prosthesis patients and < 25dB in
all bell prosthesis patients. The pure-tone average air-bone gap for the Aerial prosthesis was < 20 dB in 43%, < 25 dB in 64% and < 30 dB in 85% at 1
month. The results were stable or improved for later time intervals. To date there have been no extrusion. The surgeon finds the prosthesis easy to handle
and the open head of the prosthesis facilitates correct placement on the capitulum of the stapes or on the footplate. From a surgical point of view, the Kurz titanium prosthesis is an excellent middle ear prosthesis due to the design and the possibility of individual adjustment. The hearing results are
good. Further studies are needed to confirm long-term efficacy.

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