Soft tissue reaction to ceramic ossicular replacement prosthesis.

Soft-tissue reaction to ceramic ossicular replacement prostheses (CORP) has been evaluated histologically in rabbits and humans. One week after implantation, severe inflammatory and foreign body reaction was observed in the fibrous connective tissue surrounding the prosthesis. Though some inflammatory response was seen after one month, after three months the CORP was surrounded by a layer of fibrous connective tissue without any foreign body giant cell, histiocyte or inflammatory cell infiltration. Our satisfactory clinical results in humans without placing a cartilage between the CORP and the fascia graft may be due to the excellent soft-tissue compatibility of CORP, as demonstrated in this study.