Sacculo-collic response in otosclerosis and following successful stapes surgery.
BACKGROUND
The sacculo-collic reflex is believed to be a short latency, otolith-mediated myogenic response to sound. With the application of air-conducted sound, one would expect an absent response in stapes fixation, as a fixed stapes footplate will not transmit a pressure wave to the saccule.


METHODS
Fifty patients (70 stapes surgery ears, 26 otosclerotic ears and four normal ears) and 40 controls underwent repeated sacculo-collic tests.


RESULTS
The results support the proposed mechanism for the sacculo-collic response. The study also suggests that, whilst stapedotomy piston prostheses are effective in the reversal of conductive hearing loss, they produce an insufficient pressure wave to elicit a myogenic response to sound.


CONCLUSIONS
The sacculo-collic test could be a useful tool for screening otolith function and inferior vestibular nerve integrity, but further work is needed to determine the effect of stapes surgery on saccular function.
Stapleton
E
E
Otolaryngology Unit, University of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. emmastapleton@doctors.org.uk
Mills
R
R
Tham
J C
JC
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D001300:Audiometry, Evoked Response; D006801:Humans; D010037:Otolithic Membrane / Q000503:physiopathology; D010040:Otosclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011930:Reaction Time; D012027:Reflex, Vestibulo-Ocular; D012444:Saccule and Utricle / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013201:Stapes Surgery