Stapedectomy vs. Stapedotomy
The stapes, the smallest bone in the human body, is responsible for the conduction of sound to the inner ear.
Otosclerosis: Impact on Hearing and Treatment Options
The stapes, the smallest bone in the human body, is responsible for the conduction of sound to the inner ear. Otosclerosis is a condition in which excess bone grows in the middle ear, causing the stapes to be fixed in place. Due to the decreased vibration, the transmission of sound decreases as the bone continues to grow, resulting in hearing loss over time.
Stapedectomy vs. Stapedotomy
The stapedectomy is a procedure in which the stapes is removed and replaced with a titanium prosthesis. In a stapedotomy, only the top half of the stapes is removed and replaced with a titanium prosthesis, while the base of the stapes remains in place. A laser is used to create a hole in the footplate of the stapes, and the prosthesis is placed in the hole and attached to the incus (the adjacent bone). In both procedures, the surgeon will create a small incision in the skin of the ear canal, lifting the eardrum and surrounding skin to one side of the ear canal to gain exposure to the middle ear. In either procedure, the surgeon may use tissue harvested from the outer ear to further secure the prosthesis into place. With increasing use of lasers in the operating room, the stapedotomy has become more common due to its increased chance of high frequency hearing improvement. Additionally, the risk of complications including facial nerve paralysis, which could lead to paralysis of the face, is lower in the stapedotomy than the stapedectomy, although this chance is less than 1% in both procedures.
