Reconstructing the middle ear with homografts.

Fifty-one guinea pig temporal bones were examined up to 18 months (half of the animal's lifespan) after implanting a preserved composite tympano-ossicular monobloc homograft. The surgical technique is described in some detail to emphasize how an animal model may be used to reproduce some of the important features of human tympanoplasty. While histopathological changes are likely to influence the fate of middle-ear homografts, frank immunological rejection is rare although inflammation affecting the tympanic cavity may reverse immuno-tolerance.