Autograft nail as a material for tympanoplasty [Experimental study]

Various materials from the human body have been used as autografts in tympanoplasty. Nails have not been used for substitution. This experiment was designed to study the reaction of the middle ear and the body to implanted nails. Autograft nails were implanted in the middle ear and subcutaneous tissues of the rabbit. After one month the sites of implantation were microscopically examined and showed a severe cellular inflammatory reaction with fragmentation of the implant which was engulfed by giant cells. A severe degenerative reaction was also found in the temporal bone. In conclusion, autogenous nail is unsuitable for middle ear implantation as it leads to a severe inflammatory reaction