Abnormalities of incus in chronic otitis media and methods of ossiculoplasty using remnants of incus or cartilage

Aim and Objective: To study various erosion patterns related to incus and observe results of various methods of ossiculoplasty using autologous incus or cartilage. Materials and Methods: A total 82 cases found suitable for the study having some abnormalities of incus with inclusion criteria being presence of intact and normal malleus and stapes and where canal wall preserved. Cases were divided into four groups with group A having minimum erosion of lenticular process and group D includes those cases where incus found absent. Results: Appropriate methods of ossiculoplasty performed using remnant of incus or tragal cartilage and hearing results compared. More than 75% of cases had a postoperative air-bone gap (ABG) <25 db in all groups with group C having 85% of cases with <25 db ABG at 1-year after surgery. No statistically significant difference observed in ABG at 3 months and 1-year. Conclusion: Abnormalities of incus are commonly observed during tympanomastoid surgeries and ossiculoplasty using remnant of incus or cartilage offers a good improvement in hearing.