Although much progress has been achieved in the functional restoration of ears damaged by chronic suppurative otitis media since the introduction of tympanoplasty 30 years ago, adequate hearing improvements in ears with loss of the stapedial arch have been the most elusive. It is now recognized that such ears present the surgeon with numerous associated problems that require control for a satisfactory outcome; the problem of establishing an efficient link between the tympanic membrane and oval window has proved the most difficult. The introduction of biocompatible materials was heralded as a possible solution. In order to evaluate the claims for these new materials, the five-year results obtained with one of these, porous polyethylene, were evaluated. The one-year success rate with partial ossicular replacement prostheses was 64%; the five-year success rate was 43%. With total ossicular replacement prostheses the success rate was 59% at one year and 22% at five years. These poor results, coupled with evidence of digestion of porous polyethylene, give little justification for the continued use of this material in tympanoplasty.