Malleostapedotomy in tympanosclerosis patients.
OBJECTIVE
To present our personal experience of a series of 10 patients suffering from tympanosclerosis with functional blocking of the stapes or footplate, who underwent malleostapedotomy surgery. The criteria for patient selection for this type of operation, and its results and complications, are discussed.


METHODS
Prospective study.


RESULTS
Incus and malleus dysfunction was observed in 70 per cent of cases, either alone or combined with fixation of the stapes. The post-operative hearing results were considered to be satisfactory (i.e. within 20 dB) in 80 per cent of cases. Only one patient had sensorineural hearing loss over 10 dB.


CONCLUSIONS
Malleostapedotomy has proved its practicability in the treatment of patients with fixed footplate or stapes complicated by ankylosis of the incudomalleolar joint. This procedure can be considered a further, valid technique within the otologist's surgical armamentarium.
Magliulo
G
G
G Ferreri Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Audiology and Phoniatrics, La Sapienza University, Rome. giuseppemagliuloorl@yahoo.com
Celebrini
A
A
Cuiuli
G
G
Parrotto
D
D
Re
M
M
D000368:Aged; D000844:Ankylosis / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D001844:Bone Conduction; D005260:Female; D006314:Hearing Loss, Conductive / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007188:Incus / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008307:Malleus / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010040:Otosclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D018579:Patient Selection; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013201:Stapes Surgery / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome