title: Fisch's reversal steps stapedotomy: when to use it?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine that the use of Fisch's reversal steps stapedotomy is recommended only when the visible portion of the footplate is blue in all its points before removing the stapes superstructure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study started on January 2007 and ended on June 2007, when the statistical data reached significance. Fifty patients with otosclerosis were examined. Four otosclerosis were excluded from the study following the exclusion criteria indicated by Fisch (obliterative otosclerosis and narrow oval niche). Finally, 46 otosclerosis patients were considered for the study. For all patients, stapedotomy procedures using the reversal steps technique by Fisch were planned. The study group was divided into 2 groups (A and B) on the basis of the footplate color before removing the stapes superstructure. Group A included otosclerosis with blue footplate (n = 34). Group B included otosclerosis with white footplate (n = 12). We estimated whether the reversal steps stapedotomy proposed by Fisch significantly avoids incus complications (luxation and subluxation) and stapes footplate complications (luxation and fracture) both in blue and white otosclerosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Footplate color, incidence of complications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The footplate fenestration had not caused fractures or luxation of footplate in both groups. The fracture of the anterior crus had caused 5 footplate complications (2 luxations and 3 fractures) in Group B, but none in Group A. This difference was significant. In Group A, we had no subluxation/luxation of the incus. In Group B, we had 3 incus subluxations. This difference was significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of Fisch's reversal steps stapedotomy is recommended only when the visible portion of the footplate, before removing the stapes superstructure, is blue in all its points, that is, "blue otosclerosis," because only in this case that the original idea of Fisch avoids incus and footplate complications. When the visible portion of the footplate, before removing the stapes superstructure, is white in all or in most of its points, that is, "white otosclerosis," the reversal steps technique by Fisch is not recommended because it does not avoid incus luxation/subluxation and footplate complications (fracture and luxation of the anterior half).
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, S. G. Moscati Hospital, Avellino, Italy. gmalafronte@libero.it
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Malafronte
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Filosa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001299:Audiometry; D000075202:Contraindications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007188:Incus / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010040:Otosclerosis / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013199:Stapes / Q000473:pathology; D013201:Stapes Surgery / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome