Stapedectomy - otosclerosis surgery

Otosclerosis is a disorder in which abnormal bone forms around the stirrup (stapes) - tiny bones inside your middle ear. This abnormal bone growth prevents the bones from vibrating properly, causing hearing loss, very often in both ears. If left untreated, hearing loss slowly worsens over time. Some people with otosclerosis also feel tinnitus and dizziness.

The solution is surgery - stapedotomy, which replaces the stirrup with tiny titanium or plastic prosthesis. Entering through the auditory canal, without external incisions, the otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeon moves your eardrum and separates the stapes from the incus, and then removes it. The removed stapes is then replaced with a prosthesis that conducts sound vibrations to your inner ear, restoring hearing.

In the St. Catherine Specialty Hospital, Mislav Malić, M.D., otorhinolaryngology specialist, the only one in Croatia and the region to perform this surgery with a new, most modern approach with the help of an endoscope and state-of-the-art 4K technology, which makes the operation safer and more predictable. The hearing usually begins to return about a week after surgery and after that may improve. Stapedotomy is successful in restoring hearing in more than 90 percent of cases, and hearing improvement is usually permanent. After the surgery, it is necessary to rest for a few days and avoid strenuous physical activity for another month.