Hearing loss and tinnitus are the main symptoms of otosclerosis. Little is known about the cause of tinnitus in otosclerosis and the factors influencing the effect of surgery on tinnitus. Though by surgery, we are able to inform patient about probable hearing gain and even benefit concerning bilateral hearing, it is however difficult to predict the course of tinnitus. The principle aim of stapes surgery is to restore hearing but some patients also report reduction in the severity of tinnitus and even complete cessation of it. We describe a case report of a 37 year old male who underwent a second stapes surgery. We wish to illustrate that for our patient, tinnitus represents a major disturbance and the patient is as much concerned with the improvement of hearing as with the improvement of tinnitus.
In children, congenital deafness presents not infrequently. The majority of cases are sensorineural in nature and congenital conductive deafness is far less common. The causes range from abnormalties and fixation of ossicles, ankylosed malleo-incudal joint and absence of one or more ossicles. We describe a case of congenital ossicular abnormality, presenting with conductive deafness.
Otosclerosis is an autosomal dominant disease affecting the otic capsule. It is believed to be rare in Asian countries including Malaysia. We analyzed the results of 29 patients (35 ears) who had undergone stapes surgery for suspected otosclerosis from January 1996 to June 2002. The demographic data was analyzed. The procedure most commonly performed was stapedotomy. The closure of air bone gap after surgery was good at 2 kHz and 4 kHz compared to frequency below 2 kHz. Closure of air bone gap to within 10 dB was achieved in 74.3%. About 7.5% of our patients did not gain in average air conduction. The outcome of the procedure is comparable to those reported by authors who used the same evaluation criteria. No serious complications occurred in our patients.
A patient with Turner's syndrome presented with a rare anomaly of absent oval window, inferiorly placed facial nerve, and abnormal stapes. To our knowledge, this is the first report of this combination of malformations.
Congenital cholesteatoma (CC) is rare clinical condition and It is known as a pearly white mass medial to an intact tympanic membrane. In this case report, we describe a 6-year-old boy who presented with a one year history of left ear discomfort, reduced hearing, followed by ear discharge two months prior to admission. Otoscopic examination revealed a large attic perforation. Radiological investigation showed extensive cholesteatoma in the mastoid, mesotympanum and epitympanum with destruction of the ossicles including the stapes footplate. He underwent radical mastoidectomy in view of extensive cholesteatoma with tympanoplasty type V. In this case report, the classification, treatment and theories related to CC are discussed.