Refinement of the techniques of ossicular reconstruction has provided satisfactory hearing results for a majority of patients with chronic ear disease. As documented in 1976, 16% of patients, those requiring a columneller type of ossiculoplasty because of absence of the malleus, did not realize the same degree of hearing improvement as with other types of reconstruction. These procedures, short and long "L-shaped" assemblies, used for patients without a malleus, resulted in a mean 27 dB bone-air gap postoperatively. The conclusion reached after comparison with the results obtained with other types of reconstruction was "... the L-shaped conductive system is less efficient than normal by the amount observed (27 dB). If these results are to be improved, a change in the method of reconstruction resulting in a more normal system may be required." Following duplication of the aforecited report a change in the method of reconstruction used for patients with the malleus absent was instituted, but perversely creating a less normal conductive system. This paper will present the one year results of those patients in which a Plastipore prosthesis has been used as a replacement of the previously described method and will compare these results with those of the past technique.
听骨链重建技术的改进为大多数慢性耳病患者带来了满意的听力结果。正如1976年所记录的，16%的患者，即那些因锤骨缺失而需要柱形听骨成形术的患者，并未获得与其他类型重建相同程度的听力改善。这些用于没有锤骨的患者的手术，即短和长“L形”组件，术后平均骨导-气导间距为27 dB。与其他类型重建所获得的结果进行比较后得出的结论是“……L形传导系统比正常情况效率低所观察到的数值（27 dB）。如果要改善这些结果，可能需要改变重建方法以形成更正常的系统。”在重复上述报告后，对锤骨缺失患者使用的重建方法进行了改变，但反常地形成了一个更不正常的传导系统。本文将介绍那些使用Plastipore假体替代先前描述方法的患者的一年结果，并将这些结果与过去技术的结果进行比较。
