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 Stapedectomy

 

DESCRIPTION OF SURGERY:

Your doctor has determined that you have an abnormality in your ears, which requires surgery. A stapedectomy is an operation on the tiny sound conducting bones of the middle ear inside the head. The operation involves a surgical cut in the ear canal and possible also behind the ear. The doctor may also have to build a sound conducting ossicular chain.

INDICATIONS:

1. Stapedial otosclerosis

BENEFITS:

1. Improvement in the hearing
2. Provide definite cure of the disease in the most instances.
3. In patients with far-advanced otosclerosis, surgery may hold their threshold in range, when previously a hearing aid could not be worn.

RISKS:

As with any operation, bleeding and infection are possible complications from this ear operation. These complications could result in prolonged illness, poor healing wounds, scarring, and the need for further operations. Very rarely, nerve damage occurs from stapedectomy operations. This could result in weakness, pain and numbness over half the face and the inability to move the muscles of half the face. Nerve damage can also cause permanent loss of hearing and deafness. Growths and tumor formation in the mastoid area are also rare complications, which can follow the surgery. Dizziness, ringing in the ear, and other peculiar sensations in the ear are other uncommon complications of this surgery.

Some of the complications of stapedectomy operations can require further surgery; some of the complications can result in illness and deafness. In addition to those listed, there may be some unforeseen complications with any operative procedure.

ALTERNATIVES:

There may be alternatives to this surgery available to you, such as the use of medications, hearing aids, and delaying surgery. However, these alternative methods carry their own risks of complications and a varying degree of success. Therefore, in those patients in whom stapedectomy is indicated, the operation provides the patient with the best chance of successful treatment and the lowest risk of complications.