ERCD researchers developed a novel flexible middle ear prosthesis with a resilient joint

The latest ERCD article “Function, Applicability, and Properties of a Novel Flexible Total Ossicular Replacement Prosthesis With a Silicone Coated Ball and Socket Joint.” by Stoppe et al. has recently been promoted on the social media platforms (Facebook and Twitter) of the publishing journal Otology & Neurotology.

Dislocation and extrusion are known complications after TORP reconstruction, leading to revisions and recurrent hearing loss. Poor aeration of the middle ear, scar tension, and static pressure variations in conjunction with rigid prosthesis design causes high tension at the implant coupling points.

Addressing these problems, the above study compared the middle ear transfer functions of flexible and regular rigid titanium ossicular replacement prostheses in temporal bones at applied quasi-static pressure.

The new flexible TORP design yields a better transmission of sound after implantation and at negative pressure inside the tympanic cavity, compared with rigid TORP. In average, it provides an equivalent sound transfer like the intact middle ear.

The results with the flexible TORP show promise in mimicking the intact ossicular chain and encourage further investigations on such prostheses.