Congenital Ossicular Anomaly with Intact Tympanic Membrane

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: A nonprogressive and conductive hearing loss in the range of 40 to 60 dB with normal tympanic membrane which has no history of trauma or infection is highly suggestive of a congenital ossicular malformation. Stapes anomaly is the most common among such ossicular anomalies and it is clinically important because hearing loss can be corrected by appropriate procedures. In this study, we attempted to describe the patterns of ossicular anomalies encountered in patients who have a normal eardrum. We also analyzed the surgical result with special reference to the pattern of ossicular anomaly. MATERIALS AND METHOD: We experienced 28 ears (23 patients) of congenital ossicular anomalies which were confirmed through the exploratory tympanotomy at Ajou University Hospital between September 1994 and December 2001. The preoperative and postoperative audiologic findings, operative findings and CT findings were analyzed. RESULT: There were 7 patterns of ossicular anomalies among which stapes footplate fixation was the most common anomaly. We could get 64.3% of hearing improvement after ossiculoplasty with several kinds of prosthesis. CONCLUSION: There was a great diversity of patterns of ossicular anomalies without certain rule. Stapes anomaly was the most commonly detected. Stapes footplate fixation was the most common type which was usually bilateral. Anomalies associated with incus and malleus were usually unilateral. The surgical result of congenital ossicular anomaly was generally good.