Titanium versus Hydroxyapatite Prostheses: Comparison of Hearing and Anatomical Outcomes after Ossicular Chain Reconstruction.

Objective This study aimed to compare hearing and anatomical outcomes after ossicular chain reconstruction with titanium or hydroxyapatite prostheses. Methods In this study, patients who underwent tympanoplasty and ossicular chain reconstruction with titanium or hydroxyapatite prostheses at a university hospital from January 2007 to February 2013 were retrospectively reviewed; they had a minimum follow-up period of 6 months. Patients were divided into 4 groups according to the type of prostheses. The surgical procedure, follow-up examinations, preoperative, and postoperative audiometry results were noted and evaluated for partial and total prostheses. The results were compared both for titanium and hydroxyapatite prostheses. Results The study subjects included 51 patients. Titanium had better hearing results in partial prostheses (p<0.05), while the anatomical outcomes were similar. Nevertheless, both types had similar results in total prostheses (p>0.05). The extrusion rate was 5.8% for all patients. Conclusion Both types of prostheses had satisfactory functional and anatomical results and no preponderance could be stated, except for the hearing results of partial titanium prostheses.