Comparison of the mechanical performance of ossiculoplasty using a prosthetic malleus-to-stapes head with a tympanic membrane-to-stapes head assembly in a human cadaveric middle ear model.

Hypothesis: Ossiculoplasty using prosthetic reconstruction with a malleus assembly to the stapes head will result in better transmission of vibrations from the eardrum to the stapes footplate than reconstruction with a tympanic membrane assembly to the stapes head. Both types of reconstruction will be affected by tension of the prosthesis.

Background: Theories (and some clinical studies) that the shape of the normal tympanic membrane is important suggest that prosthetic reconstruction to the malleus performs better than reconstruction to the tympanic membrane.