title: [The diagnosis and treatment of the simple congenital malformation of ossicular chain].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the diagnosis and treatment of the simple congenital malformation of ossicular chain.
  
  
  METHODS
  Curative effect analysis for 4 cases of treatment of simple congenital malformation of ossicular chain were performed in our department from June 2005 to August 2009, retrospectively. 4 patients underwent middle ear exploration and ossicular chain reconstruction were followed up for 1-4 years, and air conduction threshold of speech frequency(0.5, 1.0, 2.0 kHz) were detected, 15 dB increase of which were as the standard of successful operation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three cases was abnormal incus, 2 cases were absence of instruction on the stapes footplates, and stapes footplates fixed, one case was absence of the incus. Hearing level had significantly improve after hearing reconstruction in 3 patients. The averaged postoperative air conduction threshold of speech frequency had 47 dB increase, bone conduction threshold have no change, while one case of hearing level without change. Tinnitus, vertigo, facial paralysis and other complications occurred were found in all the patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The congenital conductive hearing loss without external ear malformations should be suspected of congenital malformation of ossicular chain, which could be diagnosed by tympanic exploration. Ossicular chain reconstruction can improve the hearing effectively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolarygology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China.
authors.forename: Songhua
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Shihua
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Qin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Anzhou
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D004429:Ear Ossicles / Q000002:abnormalities*; D006314:Hearing Loss, Conductive / Q000151:congenital / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult