Stapes stabilizing cartilage graft.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate hearing results in patients with type 3 tympanoplasty using autologous cartilage grafts.

Methods: The study included patients treated with "stapes stabilizing cartilage graft" (SSCG) and Plastipore partial ossicular replacement prosthesis (PPORP) for hearing reconstruction. Hearing results and complications were assessed and postoperative audiological tests were performed at least 6 months after surgery.

Results: There were 18 patients (5 men, 13 women) in the SSCG group and 12 patients (5 men, 7 women) in the PPORP group. The air conduction threshold changed by 22.4 ± 7.5 dB in the SSCG group, and by 13.2 ± 12.9 dB in the PPORP group (p = 0.022), after hearing reconstruction. The air-bone gap (ABG) changed by 20.1 ± 8.3 dB in the SSCG group and by 16.3 ± 12.3 dB in the PPORP group. Although the change in ABG was greater in the SSCG group than in the PPORP group, the difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). No complications were recorded in the SSCG group, whereas two patients experienced a severe vertigo attack after surgery in the PPORP group, which lasted for approximately 2 weeks with conservative management. Extrusion was not encountered in the PPORP group, while extrusion of the titanium partial ossicular replacement prosthesis occurred in one patient in the SSCG group who underwent revision surgery.

Conclusions: Better hearing outcomes were obtained with SSCG than with PPORP. SSCG can be used as an alternative hearing reconstruction technique in cases of type 3 tympanoplasty.