Plaster of Paris and Hair Cell Morphology: A Scanning Electron Microscopic Study of an Alternative Implant Material for Ear Surgery

Abstract

Many techniques have been proposed for reconstruction of the posterior canal wall and/or obliteration of the mastoid bowl after radical mastoidectomy. The variety of materials that have been used, biological as well as foreign materials of different kinds, indicates that the ideal solution has yet to be found. Plaster of Paris, a biocompatible, degradable ceramic material prepared from CaSO4, may have an osteogenic property and become an alternative implant material for ear surgery. However, its possible ototoxicity has not been studied previously. Plaster was implanted in the tympanic cavity of guinea pigs. On investigation in the scanning electron microscope after 4.5 to 8 months, no toxic damage to the hair cell morphology was observed. Thus, from an ototoxic point of view, plaster of Paris would seem suitable for use as an implant material in ear surgery. Studies concerning the possible osteogenic property of plaster of Paris and its clinical application in human ear surgery are in progress.