Otosclerosis

Otosclerosis is a disorder that results in the fixation of the 3rd bone of hearing, or the stapes. Thought to be a genetic disorder, otosclerosis causes the bones involved with hearing and of the inner ear to be resorbed and replaced. The new bone that replaces the resorbed bone is of poorer quality and often the replaced bone goes beyond the original area. When otosclerosis affects the stapes bone, it disallows the usual piston type activity of this bone. Therefore, the conduction of sound into the inner ear is impaired resulting in hearing loss.
The treatment option for this includes doing nothing, obtaining a hearing aid or undergoing a stapedectomy operation.
The stapedectomy operation is done in the hospital through the ear canal. The ear drum along with some of the skin covering the back wall of your ear canal is raised and reflected. The bones of hearing are moved to assess where there is fixation. With otosclerosis, fixation occurs at the stapes bone, or the 3rd bone of hearing in direct contact with the inner ear or cochlea. Then, the connection between the incus, or 2nd bone of hearing and the stapes is separated. The stir-ups of the stapes are removed. A small hole is placed in the foot of the stapes bone and a small piston is placed into this hole and hung from the incus bone. Therefore, a mobile piston replaces the native immobile piston (stapes bone).