Allograft tympanoplasty.

Tympano-ossicular allografts are human transplants of the tympanic membrane alone or with the ossicles included. The authors review its use in their department since the introduction of the technique 40 years ago by J. Marquet. The advantages of the technique (near normal anatomical and physiological reconstruction) are discussed, as well as its disadvantages (time consuming harvesting, risk of disease transmission). Some technical modifications for specific indications have been adapted in our department and are described in detail. The authors believe that the tympano-ossicular allograft is the material of choice in extensively diseased middle ears destroyed by chronic otitis media with or without cholesteatoma.