Results of cavity reconstruction with hydroxyapatite implants after 15 years.

OBJECTIVE

The results of the first cohort of 60 cavity reconstructions with hydroxyapatite with a minimum follow-up period of 15 years were studied.

STUDY DESIGN

The study design was a retrospective study.

PATIENTS

A total of 60 patients had a follow-up period of >15 years. In four patients, not all data were available. Therefore, 56 patients were included in the study. They had a combination of cavity problems and hearing loss.

INTERVENTION

The ear canal was reconstructed with a canal wall prosthesis of porous hydroxyapatite. The ossicular chain was reconstructed with an incus or incus-stapes prosthesis of dense hydroxyapatite.

RESULTS

After 15 years, 42 patients (75%) had an intact reconstructed ear canal. The main problem for failure was the recurrent purulent middle ear infection and not cholesteatoma. The histology of the retrieved canal wall showed a good remodeling in living bone tissue. After 15 years, 34 patients had a normal ear canal and an ossicular chain. Of these patients, 7.05% had an air-bone gap closure within 20 dB.

CONCLUSIONS

Long-term results of cavity reconstruction with hydroxyapatite are possible. The main problem is recurrent mucosal disease of the new middle ear-mastoid cleft.