Innovations in stapes surgery

Abstract

Otosclerosis is an autosomal-dominant hereditary disease with variable penetrance and expression. It is the most common cause of progressive conductive hearing loss in adults, and two-thirds of those affected are women. The disease, which can start in the early twenties, affects the otic capsule (the bone that surrounds the inner ear the cochlea and semi-circular canals) by remodelling it (spongification). This in turn can cause fixation of the stapes to the wall of the otic capsule resulting in a conductive hearing loss. This is progressive and usually affects both ears.