Tracheal Ceramic Rings for Tracheomalacia: A Review After 17 Years

Background: Despite different support techniques, the surgical management of tracheomalacia is still a challenging problem. Satisfactory results after internal stenting are above 80%, whereas, when performing external stenting using biocompatible ceramic rings, results are reported at over 90%. Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the efficiency of surgical treatment in patients with segmentary tracheomalacia using external ceramic ring grafts. Methods: In this retrospective study, we collected data from 12 patients who underwent surgery during the last 17 years for symptomatic segmentary tracheomalacia by use of biocompatible aluminum-oxide ceramic rings. All except one pati…

Necrosis of the long process of the incus following stapes surgery: new anatomical observations.

Objectives/Hypothesis: The most frequent complication (generally recognized during revision procedures) following seemingly successful stapedotomies and stapedectomies is necrosis of the long process of the incus. This is currently ascribed to a malcrimped stapes prosthesis or to a compromised blood supply of the incus. The two-point fixation can cause a mucosal injury with a resulting toxic reaction, and also osteoclastic activity. An important aspect in the engineering of ideal stapes prostheses is that they should be fixed circularly to the long process of the incus with appropriate strength. The objective of this study was to compare current knowledge relating to the blood supply of the…

KTP-laser stapedotomy with a self-crimping, thermal shape memory Nitinol SMart piston: 1 year follow-up results: how we do it.