Stapes Surgery Using Stapedotomy versus Partial Stapedectomy

Otosclerosis is defined as an overgrowth of the bone of the otic capsule just anterior to stapes footplate in between cochlea and vestibule. In such scenario, the stapes is unable to function normally as a piston and eventually becomes completely fixated, which results in a weaker conduction [1,2]. Clinical features are characterised by hearing loss, tinnitus and vertigo, of combination of these. The prevalence of clinical otosclerosis as reported by Declau et al. during the study of a series of temporal bones is 0.3% to 0.4% of the Caucasian population, while the overall incidence is recorded as 2% for the general population [1]. Clinical otosclerosis should be distinguished from histological otosclerosis. Histological otosclerosis is about 10 times more common than clinical otosclerosis and is found in 10% of the Caucasian population as revealed by Menger et al. [2]. Stapes surgery is the treatment of choice for clinical otosclerosis and is frequently applied in different countries, although a hearing aid is also a feasible alternative [3].