Ossicular reconstruction in the absence of stapedial crura.

The reconstruction of the ossicular chain when the stapes crura are absent presents a difficult problem in achieving satisfactory functional results in the treatment of chronic oitis media by tympanoplasty. When the malleus handle is present, the cases have been treated mostly by repositioning part of an incus or a piece of cartilage between the malleus handle and the mobile footplate. The problem becomes more difficult in tympanoplastic management of old radical cavities with no ossicules apart from the stapes footplate. Apart of repositioning a part of incus or a cartilage strut between the fascial graft and the footplate, the author has tried, in the management of these cases during the last 3 years, a new "umbrella type" of prosthesis made entirely of tragal cartilage. This prosthesis enables a good resting surface for the new tympanic membrane and the hearing improvement seems to be greater than that resulting from other types of ossicular reconstruction.