Abstract
The author describes a new method for reconstructing the ossicular chain by using a polyethylene prosthesis to replace a damaged incus.
In chronic otitis media it is usually the long crus of the incus which is destroyed first, and disrupture of the ossicular chain in chronic otitis media occurs most frequently between the incus and the stapes. Destruction of the stapes is next in frequency. The malleus is the most resistant of the ossicles against chronic infection. In 190 ears operated on for chronic otitis media in Haukeland Hospital it was found that the long crus of the incus was destroyed in 74.2% (141 ears). The chain was intact in 49 cases. In 51 of the 141 cases where the long crus of the incus was destroyed, there was also complete or partial destruction of the stapes.