Learning Objectives:
Introduction: The most common place of damage of the conductive apparatus of the middle ear in cases of chronic otitis media is the area of the incudostapedial joint. The incudostapedial joint may be disconnected also in congenital deformations or after head and ear injuries.
Aim: The aim of the study was to analyze the results of hearing improving surgeries in ears with hearing loss caused by damages of the ear's conductive apparatus in the area of the incudostapedial joint.
Material and Methods: Analysis was performed in the group of patients operated in years 1999–2015. Reconstruction surgeries were performed using autogenous (incus interposition) or allogenous (glassionomer cement or various types of prostheses) materials. The results were assessed, following the standard adopted by the Institute, after 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, one year and then after 2 and 3 years.
Results and conclusions: The results confirm that an isolated damage of the auditory ossicles within the incudostapedial joint allows, in most cases, to achieve stable reconstruction or connection of the damaged chain, resulting in improvement of hearing, measured as decrease or total closing of the air-bone gap. Good and very good results achieved in the large percent of ears after surgery confirm that the technique and materials applied may be a correct approach in this type of damages of the conductive apparatus of the middle ear.
