The stapes is known in several non-mammaliaform cynodonts, although it has only been cursorily studied. Here we thoroughly analyze the stapedial anatomy of several basal cynodonts in a phylogenetic framework. Our study shows that the stapedial anatomy is more variable than previously thought. The morphological variation of the stapes led to the recognition of 11 phylogenetic characters that wer...

Congenital middle ear malformations are rare. Most part of them are usually associated with other malformations, such as aural atresia, microtia, and dysmorphic craniofacial features. A clinical case of a 24-year-old male with a right-sided conductive hearing loss since his childhood, without craniofacial malformation, is presented. He was proposed for exploratory tympanotomy under the suspicio...

Stapes fractures are usually seen in association with tympanic membrane rupture as a result of direct injury or with major skull trauma. However, barotrauma such as blowing the nose is a rare cause of stapes fractures. Furthermore, fracture of the posterior crus is extremely rare. To our knowledge, the combination of a perilymph fistula and acute mastoiditis has not been previously reported.. W...

A method is described that allows, for the first time, intraoperative vibration modes assessment of the acoustically stimulated stapes by means of scanning laser Doppler interferometry (LDI). The study was designed to answer the following questions: 1) Is LDI practical for taking measurements during surgery? 2) Are the results comparable to the findings in temporal bone preparations? and 3) Do ...

Unilateral otosclerosis combined with avascular necrosis of stapes crura is a rare entity. it should be considered in a case of high grade otosclerosis. Symptoms are the same as in patients who suffer from common otosclerosis. Patients complain on progressive hearing loss and tinnitus. The diagnosis is made clinically by conventional audiologic evaluation and radiologically by x-ray mastoid Sch...

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS To review surgical findings and hearing outcomes of incus footplate assembly (IFA) for the patients with conductive hearing loss due to missing stapes superstructure with a mobile stapes footplate. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective case review and survey. METHODS Pre- and postoperative audiometric data and intraoperative findings were reviewed. Postoperative air-bone gap (ABG...

Classic theories of hearing have considered only a translational component (piston-like component) of the stapes motion as being the effective stimulus for cochlear activation and thus the sensation of hearing. Our previous study (Huber et al., 2008) qualitatively showed that rotational components around the long and short axes of the footplate (rocking-like components) lead to cochlear activat...

OBJECTIVES The aim of the study was to find out the reasons of the recurrent or persisting hearing loss after previous stapes surgery indicated for otosclerosis. BACKGROUND Revision stapes surgery is a relatively safe surgical method. Recurrent or persisting conductive hearing loss is commonly caused by prosthesis dislocation and adhesions in the oval window. Hearing loss is directly proporti...