Histological fate of cortical bone autografts in the middle ear.

Histological studies have been carried out on six cortical bone autografts and three ossicular grafts removed between 6 and 232 months after implantation in ossicular reconstructions. Both types of graft consisted mainly of dead bone, with some areas of viable osteocytes. Four out of six cortical bone grafts showed evidence of new bone formation and only one had reduced in size during the period in the middle ear. Fibrosis and inflammation were also noted in some specimens. In most cases cortical bone autografts appear to survive as well as ossicular grafts in the middle ear.