Experimental middle ear surgery in rabbits

A new approach for reconstructing the ossicular chain

authored by: M. Stieve, H. J. Hedrich, R. D. Battmer, P. Behrens, P. Müller, Th Lenarz
Abstract: This experimental animal study aimed at evaluating a new prosthesis to replace the ossicular chain; we developed a new technique for surgical implantation into the middle ear of rabbits. The rabbit middle ear is, owing to the relative anatomical dimensions involved, an ideal environment for implantation procedures involving the ossicles, as the surgical conditions are similar to those of the human middle ear. This study included a total of 34 approximately six-month-old female white rabbits (New Zealand) weighing between 3.2 and 4.4 kg. The implants used were constructed of ceramic materials (titania, TiO₂) of various pore sizes. Directly prior to implanting the total ossicular reconstruction prostheses (TORPs), as well as at 28, 84 and 300 days after implantation, electric response audiometry was used to determine the hearing thresholds of the animals (bone conduction; click stimulus nHL). An erbium:YAG laser was used to excise the original ossicular chain. Following implantation, we were unable to detect any stenosis of the outer ear canal or perforation of the tympanic membrane. The conductive hearing threshold was in the range of 4.21 ± 6.68 dB nHL (n = 131). The hearing level showed no significant difference before and after surgery (P < 0.05).
Organisation(s): Institute of Inorganic Chemistry
External Organisation(s): Hannover Medical School (MHH)
Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI)
Type: Article
Journal: Laboratory animals
Volume: 43
Pages: 198-204
No. of pages: 7
ISSN: 0023-6772
Publication date: 01.04.2009
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Animal Science and Zoology, veterinary(all)
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.1258/la.2008.007152 (Access: Open)

BibTeX

@article{83623375ea164358a6e340b67448f3c5,
title = "Experimental middle ear surgery in rabbits: A new approach for reconstructing the ossicular chain",
abstract = "This experimental animal study aimed at evaluating a new prosthesis to replace the ossicular chain; we developed a new technique for surgical implantation into the middle ear of rabbits. The rabbit middle ear is, owing to the relative anatomical dimensions involved, an ideal environment for implantation procedures involving the ossicles, as the surgical conditions are similar to those of the human middle ear. This study included a total of 34 approximately six-month-old female white rabbits (New Zealand) weighing between 3.2 and 4.4 kg. The implants used were constructed of ceramic materials (titania, TiO2) of various pore sizes. Directly prior to implanting the total ossicular reconstruction prostheses (TORPs), as well as at 28, 84 and 300 days after implantation, electric response audiometry was used to determine the hearing thresholds of the animals (bone conduction; click stimulus nHL). An erbium:YAG laser was used to excise the original ossicular chain. Following implantation, we were unable to detect any stenosis of the outer ear canal or perforation of the tympanic membrane. The conductive hearing threshold was in the range of 4.21 ± 6.68 dB nHL (n = 131). The hearing level showed no significant difference before and after surgery (P < 0.05).",
keywords = "Brain response audiometry, Experimental middle ear surgery, Ossicular chain prostheses, Rabbit",
author = "M. Stieve and Hedrich, {H. J.} and Battmer, {R. D.} and P. Behrens and P. M{\"u}ller and Th Lenarz",
year = "2009",
month = apr,
day = "1",
doi = "10.1258/la.2008.007152",
language = "English",
volume = "43",
pages = "198--204",
journal = "Laboratory animals",
issn = "0023-6772",
publisher = "SAGE Publications Ltd",
number = "2",
}