Stapedectomy

Stapedectomy

A surgical procedure in which the innermost bone among the three bones of the middle ear is removed, and regenerated with a small plastic tube encompassing a short radius of stainless steel wire.

Purpose

This is performed to improve the movement of volume to the inner ear. It is performed to treat advanced hearing loss caused by otosclerosis, a condition in which spongy bone indurate around the base of the stapes. This condition fixes the stapes to the opening of the inner ear so that the stapes no longer move rapidly.

Demographics

Otosclerosis affects about 10% of the United States population. These terms mean that a child having a parent with otosclerosis has a half chance of generating the gene for the disorder. In addition, some scientists think that the beginning of the disorder is activated when a person who has the gene factor for otosclerosis is contaminated with the measles virus.

It usually develops frequently in people between the age groups between 10 and 30. In most situations, both ears are affected; however, about 10%–15% of patients diagnosed with otosclerosis have loss of hearing in only single ear. It affects women more frequently than men.