rhBMP-2/atelocollagen composite as a new material for ossicular reconstruction

Hidetsugu Tsujigiwa*, Yasushi Takeda**, Hitoshi Nagatsuka***, Andrea P. Rodriguez***,

Naoki Katase***, Kazunori Nishizaki**, Masao Yamada*

Department of Virology*, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery**,

Department of Oral Pathology and Medicine***,

Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University

Many different prosthesis and techniques are used to reconstruct the middle ear ossicles. However, prostheses used for ossiculoplasty are yet to be improved. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of rhBMP-2/atelocollagen composite for ossicular reconstruction. rhBMP-2/atelocollagen composite was implanted as substitute of ossicles and was subjected to histological and radiological examination. In order to evaluate the auditory function, auditory brainstem response (ABR) was measured. The process of ossicular bone formation was similar to intramembranous ossification. They also demonstrated that the hearing ability was re-established by ABR threshold shifts. This ossicular tissue engineering may be considered as a future therapeutic strategy for ossiculoplasty.