Mechanical treatment and autoclaving of middle ear ossicles from cholesteatomatous ears

Abstract

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title>

Histological Changes of the Middle Ear Ossicles Harvested during Cholesteatoma Surgery

“…We grouped the destruction of the malleus and incus into two grades. Our grading system is consistent with malleus and incus erosion classification (11,12). Ossicle destruction grade I is mild erosion and ossicle is available for autograft ossiculoplasty.…”

“…Vartiainen and Karjalainen (13) reported a low cholesteatoma recurrence rate of only 4%. The risk of residual disease is lowered by drilling of all ossicular surfaces under microscopic control and increased in cases of badly eroded ossicles (2,6,11,12). Because badly eroded ossicles are deformed and flimsy, mechanical cleaning is technically more difficult and limited in efficacy.…”

“…Because badly eroded ossicles are deformed and flimsy, mechanical cleaning is technically more difficult and limited in efficacy. These severely eroded ossicles could be treated by autoclaving but badly deformed ossicles are usually not suitable for reconstruction of the ossicular chain (1,11,12).…”