Tissue reactions to glass ceramics in the middle ear

Abstract

The bioactive glass ceramic Ceravital was used to fashion prostheses for the replacement of various ossicles in the middle ear. In 70 rabbit ears they were accepted in osseous areas without formation of surrounding fibrous tissue. Histological examinations regularly showed an osseous bond with the surrounding bony tissue. Mucus membrane covered these ossicular chain prostheses and showed no inflammatory reactions. Glass ceramic implants were used to reconstruct the ossicular chain and the posterior wall of the outer ear canal in 100 patients. The function was satisfactory in all cases.