The gain in hearing as a result of ossicular prosthesis (TORP) placement on the stapes footplate was evaluated in 10 patients during actual middle ear reconstructive surgery. The patients with radical mastoidectomy cavities were operated on under local anaesthesia and intra‐operative hearing was tested with the TORP shaft in three positions with regard to the stapes footplate: anterior, central and posterior. The anterior position of the shaft provided greater hearing improvement than the posterior position, with the central position falling approximately midwa