Stapedectomy surgery or ear bone adhesion is one of the precise and restorative procedures in the field of otology, which is performed to treat transitional hearing loss caused by otosclerosis.

What is stapedectomy surgery?

Stapedectomy is one of the types of middle ear surgery that doctors perform with the aim of improving hearing. This surgery is mostly for those who have a disease called otosclerosis.

There are three very small bones in our middle ear:

• hammer (malleus)
• Anvil (Incus)
• Stipes

The task of these three bones is to transmit sound vibrations from the eardrum to the inner ear.... In otosclerosis, the stapes bone gradually becomes stiff and fixed and can no longer move properly.... For this reason, gradual hearing loss occurs.... This condition, if untreated, can lead to symptoms similar to acoustic neuroma... Acoustic neuroma is a benign tumor in the auditory nerve, the most important symptoms of which are tinnitus, imbalance, and hearing loss. It is gradual.

How is stapedectomy performed?

Before surgery, a careful examination of the eardrum is necessary, because some problems such as rupture or infection of the eardrum can prevent timely operation or the doctor's decision.... Especially in cases where the patient presents with hearing loss, pain, or discharge, the doctor must carefully examine the symptoms of eardrum rupture or the absence of complications..

The ear bone adhesion operation can be done under general or local anesthesia.. It depends on the doctor's decision and the patient's condition.. In general, the surgical steps are as follows:

1... Making an incision and accessing the middle ear

The doctor makes a small incision inside the ear canal or behind the earlobe... then gently lifts the eardrum (tympanic membrane) to expose the middle ear bones.

2... removing the footrest

At this stage, the surgeon carefully examines the bones of the ear to make sure that the problem is really with the stapes bone (point) and that the other bones are mobile... Then he removes the stapes bone, which has become stiff and immovable due to otosclerosis... However, sometimes he may remove a part of it from the ear

...

3... Placing the prosthesis

The doctor places a very delicate and light prosthesis, which is usually made of Teflon, titanium or platinum, in place of the stapes bone. The other end of this prosthesis is connected to the incus bone and directly contacts the inner ear fluid through a small hole in the base of the stapes.

4... restoring the eardrum and closing the incision

The surgeon returns the eardrum to its original place and sutures the cut to seal it... At the end, he puts a soft dressing such as gel foam or special cotton in the ear canal.

What are the side effects of stapedectomy?

Since every surgery has risks, stapedectomy may also have side effects, but many of these cases are controllable and preventable... The most common side effects of this ear surgery include the following:

• Dizziness or imbalance... These problems often go away within a few days to a week.... When you get out of bed you feel like the environment is spinning a little... It seems like you've been oscillating for a long time.
• Buzzing or ringing in the ears.... These complications are something similar to the experience of some patients with ear infections and are temporarily aggravated after surgery.... In most patients, these problems decrease or disappear over time.
• Feeling of ear fullness or heaviness... This feeling is usually due to a dressing inside the ear or a change in pressure in the middle ear, and it resolves within 2 to 4 weeks.

Comparison of stapedectomy surgery with other types of ear surgery

Stapedectomy is a restorative surgery to restore transient hearing, and based on the purpose, location of surgery, type of anesthesia, complexity and even the return of hearing, it has fundamental differences from other types of ear surgery.

Mastoidectomy

Mastoidectomy surgery is often performed to treat chronic middle ear infection or cholesteatoma (ear cyst, cholesteatoma). In this procedure, the doctor scrapes the mastoid bone (located behind the ear) to remove infected or destructive tissue. Hearing is also performed, but is a secondary priority.

Before mastoidectomy surgery, the doctor uses tests such as an ear tape to check the degree and type of hearing loss in order to make a more accurate decision about the type and scope of surgical intervention. The conductive type is sensory nerve or mixed and how intense it is.

Auditory Brainstem Implantation (ABI) surgery

In stapedectomy, we are faced with a disease at the level of the middle ear, where the structure of the inner ear and the auditory nerve are still healthy... But in the auditory brain stem implant, the situation is completely different.. Otorhinolaryngology specialists and neurosurgeons.... Only a limited number of patients are suitable candidates for this type of ear surgery.... Contrary to the stapedectomy method, which restores more natural hearing, in ABI, the hearing is more artificial and limited. is.

Snail planting

Cochlear implant surgery is performed for patients with severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss, especially when hearing aids no longer work.. In this surgery, an electrode is placed inside the cochlea to transmit signals directly to the auditory nerve.

The main difference between cochlear implantation and stapedectomy is that in stapedectomy, the inner ear and auditory nerve remain active and healthy, and the doctor only removes the mechanical obstacle (immovable stapes bone)...

Tympanomastoidectomy surgery

Tympanomastoidectomy surgery is a combination of tympanoplasty (repair of the eardrum and auditory bones) and mastoidectomy. This surgery is usually performed in patients with chronic middle ear infection with bone destruction or advanced cholesteatoma...

In cases where the patient presents with acute symptoms such as severe ear pain, fever or frequent ear discharge and does not respond to drug treatment, the doctor may suggest this surgery as part of the urgent treatment of ear pain in adults to prevent the spread of infection and the occurrence of serious complications.

Cholesteatoma surgery

Cholestatoma is an abnormal mass of epithelial cells in the middle ear or mastoid that can gradually destroy the ossicles, the eardrum, and even the facial nerve... Epithelial cells are cells that naturally cover the inner or outer surface of tissues and organs such as the skin, respiratory tract, or ear canal...>

Cholestatoma of the ear is performed with the aim of completely removing the mass and preventing recurrence and serious complications such as hearing loss, dizziness or facial paralysis.

Action of ear bone adhesion in several lines

If your doctor has suggested stapedectomy surgery to improve your hearing, don't worry... This operation is performed with precise technology and minimal incision, and most patients recover after a short recovery period.... If you are facing problems such as ear infection or symptoms of eardrum rupture, you should definitely check and treat them first and then think about ear glue operation.

You can apply through the site GCORP LLC and consult with the best specialist doctors, including otolaryngologist, online. Also, GCORP LLC provides you with the possibility to make an appointment with the specialist of your choice through the online appointment system in order to see an otolaryngologist in person.

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Source: clevelandclinic | Healthdirect Medicalnewstoday