"Ossiculoplasty with a personal prosthesis"

Biological and synthetic biocompatible materials have been used to perform ossiculoplasty operations. Biocompatible materials have to respect three physical parameters: weight, density and rigidity. The Authors suggest a new model of TORP made up by assembling a fragment of homologous rib cartilage with a steel Teflon piston. These materials show low antigenicity, being readily available and modellable during the costruction. The prosthesis so assembled has the following dimensions: 4 mm in the major diameter, 0,6 mm in the minor diameter, 6,5 mm in the maximum length. The total weight is 20 mg and is compatible with the biodinamic mechanisms of the inner ear, even if both weight and length can be reduced according to the anatomo-surgical context by cutting the TORP. The prosthesis has been applied since October 1991 with good functional results at the planned follow-up.