Surgery -- Surgery can be a highly effective treatment for otosclerosis. The procedure is called a "stapedectomy" (or "stapedotomy"). The procedure is intended to "bypass" the fixed part of the stapes
Stapes
The stapes or stirrup is a bone in the middle ear of humans and other mammals which is involved in the conduction of sound vibrations to the inner ear. The stirrup-shaped small bone is on and transmits these to the oval window, medially. The stapes is the smallest and lightest named bone in the human body, and is so-called because of its resemblance to a stirrup.
Full Answer
What is otosclerosis and how is it treated?
Otosclerosis is a condition of the middle ear and mainly affects the tiny stirrup (stapes) bone. It causes gradual hearing loss. Otosclerosis is a common cause of hearing loss. It is caused by a problem with the tiny bones (ossicles) which transmit vibrations through the middle ear so we can hear sound.
What is the pathophysiology of otosclerosis?
Otosclerosis is a disease of the otic capsule. In its active phase, known as otospongiosis, highly vascular lesions resorb bone surrounding the inner ear, most often in a patchy pattern. The active lesions mature into calcified otosclerotic plaques which are responsible for stapes fixation.
Why does otosclerosis occur mainly in the stapes?
In otosclerosis, it seems that the re-modelling process of the stirrup (stapes) - one of the tiny bony ossicles in the middle ear - becomes faulty. New bone is not made properly and abnormal bone forms. However, the reason why this occurs mainly in the stapes (and sometimes the cochlea) is not entirely clear.
What are the types of hearing loss caused by otosclerosis?
This is the most common type of hearing loss seen in otosclerosis. It known as a "conductive" or “mechanical” hearing loss, since the disease keeps sound vibrations from being conducted through the middle ear to the inner ear.
Which procedure helps treat otosclerosis?
Otosclerosis surgery is called a stapedectomy (stay-puh-dek-tuh-mee). During this procedure, your surgeon places a prosthesis (replacement hearing bone) in your middle ear. This prosthesis bypasses the stapes bone, allowing sound waves to travel to the inner ear. As a result, hearing is improved.
Which surgical procedure is used to restore hearing in cases of otosclerosis?
A stapedectomy is surgery to treat hearing loss caused by otosclerosis. This condition affects your hearing by damaging your stape, a tiny U-shaped bone in your middle ear. Your stape helps you hear by sending sound waves from your middle ear to your inner ear.
How is otosclerosis surgery done?
In the procedure, all or part of the stapes bone is removed with either a laser or micro-drill. A tiny “piston” is then placed between the second bone of hearing (the incus) and the inner ear. Occasionally, additional tissue is taken from the external ear to help seal the opening into the inner ear.
What is a stapedectomy procedure?
A stapedectomy (say "stay-puh-DEK-tuh-mee") is surgery to remove a small bone, called the stapes, from the middle ear. The middle ear contains three bones: the stapes (say "STAY-peez"), the incus, and the malleus. These bones help with hearing.
Why is a stapedectomy performed?
A stapedectomy is a type of ear surgery performed to treat otosclerosis-related hearing loss. The bone buildup of this condition keeps the stapes (stirrup bone) from properly moving and this results in conductive hearing loss.
What is otosclerosis and can otosclerosis be cured?
Mild otosclerosis can be treated with a hearing aid that amplifies sound, but surgery is often required. In a procedure known as a stapedectomy, a surgeon inserts a prosthetic device into the middle ear to bypass the abnormal bone and permit sound waves to travel to the inner ear and restore hearing.
What material is used in a stapedectomy?
The materials evolved from Teflon, metal, to plastic, and most recently to gold and titanium. While initially the diameter of the pistons used was 0.8 and 0.6 mm, from the 1970s onwards, it has been becoming even smaller in order to ease the procedure and reduce the risk of inner ear damage.
What is a Tympanotomy procedure?
Tympanostomy (Ear Tubes) Tympanoplasty is surgery to place ear tubes. Ear tubes are small, hollow cylinders inserted into your eardrum. They're often used in children or adults who have chronic middle ear infections or infections that have resisted treatment.
What is laser stapedectomy?
Laser stapedotomy is a well-established surgical technique for treating conductive hearing loss due to otosclerosis. The procedure creates a tiny opening in the stapes (the smallest bone in the human body) in which to secure a prosthetic.
What is a Myringoplasty operation?
A myringoplasty is a surgery performed by an otolaryngologist to repair a hole in the eardrum.
Why is tympanoplasty done?
Doctors do a tympanoplasty when the eardrum (or tympanic membrane) has a hole that doesn't close on its own. It is done to improve hearing and prevent water from getting into the middle ear. Kids can get a hole in an eardrum from: infections that cause the eardrum to burst.
What is the difference between stapedectomy and stapedotomy?
While a stapedectomy typically removes the entire stapes footplate and has it replaced with a micro prosthesis. During a stapedotomy, a prosthesis is positioned within the precisely-made and measured hole that is created in the footplate of the stapes bone.
What is the procedure to remove otosclerosis?
Surgery -- Surgery can be a highly effective treatment for otosclerosis. The procedure is called a "stapedectomy" (or "stapedotomy"). The procedure is intended to "bypass" the fixed part of the stapes bone by removing it, and replacing it with a new, mobile, prosthetic bone.
Where is the otosclerosis implant placed?
A tiny “piston” is then placed between the second bone of hearing (the incus) and the inner ear. Occasionally, additional tissue is taken from the external ear to help seal the opening into the inner ear. Patients undergoing otosclerosis surgery usually go home the same day of surgery.
What is the name of the ear surgery that affects the bone of the ear?
Otosclerosis and Stapes Surgery. Otosclerosis is an inherited disease that affects the bone of the ear. The name "otosclerosis" means "scarring of the ear", which accurately describes what happens in affected ears. The inner ear (organ of hearing and balance) is surrounded by the strongest bone in the body, known as the "otic capsule".
What is it called when the bone around the ear is scarred?
This hard, scarred bone is called “otosclerosis”. As the bone around the ear changes with otosclerosis, problems may result in the function of the ear. This most commonly occurs when the bone of the otic capsule grows onto the stapes (or "stirrup") bone.
How long does it take for otosclerosis surgery to heal?
The operation takes about 1 to 2 hours, and most patients are able to resume normal activity after about 1 week. It usually takes 4-6 weeks for the ear to fully heal, and for the hearing to improve.
What is the purpose of hearing tests?
Hearing tests are also used to monitor progression of disease, and to assess treatment results. Radiologic studies, especially high resolution CT scanning, are occasionally used to confirm the diagnosis of otosclerosis.
Is otosclerosis worse than ear?
The hearing loss from otosclerosis is usually progressive over many years. Both ears are often affected, although one ear is usually worse than the other. The hearing loss may progress during pregnancy and (possibly) with certain types of hormonal treatment. Tinnitus (Ear Noises) Tinnitus is the presence of abnormal ear and head noises, ...
Why does otosclerosis happen?
Otosclerosis happens because there is abnormal bone formation in one of the tiny bones in the middle ear. It is not clear why this happens but it is likely to be caused by a combination of various factors: Hereditary (genetic) factors. Complications from having had a virus. Possible effect of low fluoride levels.
How many people in the UK have otosclerosis?
Otosclerosis affects about 1 or 2 in 100 people in the UK. It usually first develops between the ages of 15-35 years but sometimes develops in younger children. Women are affected twice as often as men. Pregnancy is not a cause but may make the condition worse, so symptoms are commonly first noticed during pregnancy.
What is the name of the condition that affects the tiny stirrup bone?
Otosclerosis is a condition of the middle ear and mainly affects the tiny stirrup (stapes) bone. It causes gradual hearing loss. Otosclerosis. In this article.
Why is hearing loss called conductive hearing loss?
The hearing loss is known as conductive hearing loss because sound vibrations cannot be conducted (transmitted) from the stapes to the cochlea. In most cases, it is just the stapes which is affected. However, sometimes, over time, otosclerosis can also affect the bony shell of the cochlea and the nerve cells within it.
Why do I have hearing loss?
Otosclerosis is a common cause of hearing loss. It is caused by a problem with the tiny bones (ossicles) which transmit vibrations through the middle ear so we can hear sound. Usually both ears are affected in otosclerosis but sometimes only one ear is affected. Otosclerosis affects about 1 or 2 in 100 people in the UK.
What is a tinnitus?
Tinnitus is an abnormal noise which you hear but which seems not to come from outside your ear. It occurs in about 4 in 5 people with otosclerosis. Noises heard include ringing, whistles, roaring, machine-type noises, etc. Tinnitus tends to worsen as hearing loss worsens.
Which part of the brain is responsible for the transmission of sound signals?
The cochlea converts the vibrations to sound signals which are sent along a nerve from the ear to the brain, allowing us to hear. The semicircular canals in the inner ear contain a fluid that moves around as we move. The movement of the fluid is sensed by tiny hairs in the semicircular canals.