Hypothesis: In the literature several surgical methods have been reported that aim to improve hearing in patients with isolated malleus fractures; however, it is still not clear which method gives the best results.
Background: In this study, laser Doppler vibrometry (LDV) was used to compare the outcome of different surgical methods on malleus fractures in fresh frozen human temporal bones.
Methods: Fractured malleus shafts of defrosted human temporal bones were repaired with bone cement, with a malleus prosthesis from cortical bone, or with a partial ossicular replacement prosthesis (PORP) from cortical bone, and LDV measurements were obtained for analysis.
Results: The best result was achieved with the bone cement only, applied directly at the site of the fracture. The malleus prosthesis and the PORP gave similar results.
Conclusion: All three surgical methods gave good results, but when the distal end of the fractured malleus can be attached close to the proximal end, the technique using only cement tends to be the best option. If the parts are too far apart, a malleus prosthesis or a PORP would be good options.