Otosclerosis

Otosclerosis shows itself with the weakness of the movement occurred as a result of calcification arising in the part of stirrup bone joining with inner ear in the oval window. The patient has hearing weakness as the sounds coming to the ear cannot be transmitted to inner ear in relation with the degree of this alabaster. This weakness can increase, it is mainly in the type of transmission and it can be in neurogenic or mixed type in rare cases. In addition, the patient can have ear ringing, dizziness, and disruption of balance. Though the cause of this disease is not known accurately, it was determined that genetic factors play an important role. More frequency of occurrence in pregnant women shows the role of hormonal factor. The probability of occurrence of the disease is 2 times higher in women than men. The disease emerges at the ages between 15 – 45. Rarely, it starts before at the age of 10 and after at the age of 45.

Diagnosis is made according to the examination of ear and hearing test. Calcification is determined with CT. The accurate diagnosis is made according to the movement in bones.

Treatment: There are 3 main treatments of this disease: These include rehabilitation with hearing device, drug treatment and surgical intervention. Hearing device is used in the patients who don’t want to be operated or in the patients who are appropriate for surgery. These patients can benefit from hearing device. Drug treatment prevents the further development of the disease. The most widely used drug is Sodium Flouride. In addition, vitamin D and calcium carbonate are used. Surgical treatment is stapedectomy. Though this surgery can be performed under local anesthesia, it is mostly performed with general anesthesia. Here, making cuts from external ear passage under the microscope, skin and eardrum are raised. The movement of bones is controlled and specified. Then stirrup bone is separated from anvil bone and the upper part of this bone is removed. The hole is opened on the basis of stirrup joined with inner ear. This can be opened by laser or surgical device. The prosthesis which sees the function of stirrup is passed to the anvil and placed into the hole.

Different prostheses can be used for this purpose. Thus, the movement and completeness of bone chain are ensured and sound is properly transmitted to inner ear. The eardrum is restored. Melting tampons are placed to outer ear passage.

What to be paid attention to after the surgery?

Sleep in a position in which the head is high, if any person has allergy, medicines that prevent sneezing can be given and if there is constipation, the medicines preventing it can be taken. Drops are given to the patient for ear after the surgery. The recovery of eardrum is followed in control examinations.

There can be complications during this surgery, initial and final periods after the surgery. These can include perforation in eardrum, bleeding, damage of nerve fulfilling the function of taste, pressure flow of perilymph from inner ear of leak out of the piston after the surgery, hearing loss of nerve origin, middle ear inflammation, temporary and permanent facial paralysis, displacement of the prosthesis and closure of the hole where the prosthesis is located with a new bone. However, the frequency of occurrence of these complications is low. This surgery requires high surgical experience and accuracy.