OBJECTIVETo study the clinical effects of bridging operation by an autogenous incus in the ossiculoplasty.

METHODSAll the postoperative follow-up data of the 68 patients were analyzed retrospectively, who underwent bridging operation by an autogenous incus in the ossiculoplasty and were followed up for 6-28 months with an average of 19.75 months. The autogenous incus which had been reshaped was implanted between the intact malleus and the intact mobile stapes. The preoperative and postoperative pure tone average (PTA) air-conduction, bone-conduction and air-bone gap on four frequencies (0.5, 1, 2 and 4 kHz) were calculated and analyzed.

RESULTSNo postoperative autogenous includes were extruded with only two cases displaced. The pure tone air conduction improved from a preoperative average of (46.69 +/- 18.32) dB to a postoperative average of (30.21 +/- 9.46) dB, while bone conduction improved from a preoperative average of (24.72 +/- 10.63) dB to a postoperative average of (18.15 +/- 8.91) dB, as well as air-bone gap closed from a preoperative average of 21.97 +/- 10.32 dB to a postoperative average of (12.06 +/- 9.46) dB. The success rate (postoperative PTA-ABG < or = 20 dB) occurred in 75% of all the cases. The improvement of the bone conduction occurred in 66% of all the cases, at least with 10 dB occurred in at least two frequencies.

CONCLUSIONSBecause of low expenses, high convenience in an operation, high stability in effects, very low complications and excellent hearing results for the patients, the bridging operation as stated in the above was worthy of choice. The autogenous incus could be utilized if the defects between the intact, mobile stapes and the intact malleus could be well repaired.