Stapedectomy Surgery

This medical procedure can reestablish normal hearing in over 90% of cases.

When is Stapedectomy Surgery Required?

This procedure is utilised when the primary cause of a hearing loss is a diminished movement of the stapes (otosclerosis). In case both ears have this issue, the ear with more poor hearing is dealt with first.

Not every person with otosclerosis needs this procedure. Often, the hearing loss isn't sufficiently severe to require a medical procedure. Once in a while, people choose a hearing aid to increase their hearing ability. Sometimes the surgery might be done to enhance the hearing from a hearing aid.

How is the Procedure Performed?

You will be given a local or general analgesic or anaesthesia. A local analgesic is a medication that numbs the part of your body where you will have the surgery. If you are given a local sedative, you may likewise be given a calming medicine to help you in relaxing. A general sedative will loosen up your muscles, put you to rest, and prevent you from feeling any pain amid the surgery.

Your doctor will use a powerful magnifying lens to look and work inside the ear. Your doctor will make a cut in the ear canal near the eardrum, and the eardrum will be lifted away from the middle ear. The three ear bones inside the ear will be checked to ensure that the stapes is the reason for the hearing loss. Your doctor will remove part or the majority of the stapes. Once in a while, a laser will be utilised. Your supplier will then put artificial stapes in the ear. The new stapes will reconnect the 2 other ear bones to the internal ear. The eardrum will then be returned to its correct position. Your doctor will place a dressing in the ear canal.

The surgery often takes not more than 1 to 1.5 hours.

What are the Risks of Stapedectomy?

Your doctor will clarify the procedure and any dangers. Some possible risks include:

• Anaesthesia has a few risks. Talk about these risks with your doctor.
• You may have infection or bleeding.
• The eardrum might be damaged and have a gap or tear. You may require more surgery to heal it.
• Your hearing ability may not be any better after the surgery. This can happen if the artificial stapes slip. Another surgery can correct this problem.
• Your heating ability may deteriorate to the point where hearing aid becomes useless. Luckily, this is uncommon.

How Does Follow-up Takes Place?

Your doctor may ask you to go home on the same day after the surgery. You will also be told when you can return to your usual routine. You will be given a list of do's and don'ts as well.

Your hearing ability may not be improved directly after the surgery due to the dressing put into your ear. Generally, you will return to see your doctor within a week after the surgery to have the bandage removed. Your hearing ability may not appear to be any better until a month or so after the medical procedure as a result of swelling and bruising inside the ear.

You may have dizziness, ringing or humming in your ear or an adjustment in taste for some time after the medical procedure. The part of your face where you had the surgery may have an impermanent weakness, yet this is extremely uncommon.

Your doctor will conduct a hearing test 1 to 2 months after the surgery to perceive how well you are hearing.