[The experimental assessment of high-density ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene for the prosthetic treatment of auditory ossicles].

The objective of the present study was the comparative assessment of the influence of titanium and high-density ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (HDMPE) on the selected biochemical and immunological properties of blood and morphological features of the middle ear tissues in experimental animals. A total of 35 rabbits used were allocated to 3 groups. Groups 1 and 2 included 15 animals each. They were involved in three series of experiments (5 animals per series lasting 15, 60, and 90 days). Group 3 was comprised of 5 animals. Prosthetic treatment of auditory ossicles was performed using implants from modified high-density ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (group 1) and titanium implants (group 2). Control animals (group 3) remained intact. There were no significant difference between total bilirubin, AsAT, glucose, creatinine, and total protein levels in blood plasma at different time-points after surgery. HDMPE turned out to have no appreciable effect on immunological characteristics and morphological features of the soft tissues lining tympanic bulla. It is concluded that HDMPE may serve as a material for the fabrication of prostheses of the auditory ossicle chain.