Vol.97 No.4 contentsPRACTICA OTO-RHINO-LARYNGOLOGICA
Vol. 97 No. 4 April 2004
Tympanoplasty with Ossiculoplasty Type III and IV
Sugata Takahashi and Yutaka Yamamoto
(Niigata University)
One hundred and twenty eight cases of tympanoplasty with ossiculoplasty type III and IV in Niigata University hospital were evaluated. The hearing results were classified as successful when the postoperative hearing level met at least one of these three conditions: 1) air bone gap less than 15 dB; 2) hearing gain more than 15 dB; or 3) hearing level above 30 dB.
Success was obtained in 88 (68.8％) of 128 ears with ossiculoplasty type III and IV. Ossiculoplasty type III with columella interposition showed the most excellent success rate of 75.0％, and type IV with columella interposition showed the second best success rate of 70.8％. The presence of the stapes superstructure and mallear handle is thought to be the most valuable factor in obtaining a satisfactory hearing result in tympanoplasty with ossiculoplasty type III and/or IV.
Key words : tympanoplasty, ossiculoplasty, columella