[Imaging of postoperative failures and complications in stapes surgery for otosclerosis]

Otosclerosis (OS) is a dysplasia of the otic capsule located in most cases on the anterior margin of the oval window or fissula ante fenestrum. Progressive conductive hearing loss is the major clinical symptom, due to stapedovestibular ankylosis. Stapes surgery is the only effective treatment of OS, with excellent functional results in more than 90% of cases. However, failures and complications of the surgery may be observed. In theses cases, the etiologic work-up includes imaging evaluation (CT and MRI). Imaging findings are extremely useful in the therapeutic decision. Surgical failure represents 80% of the causes for surgical revision. The main causes of failure are: displacement of the prosthesis, fibrosis of the oval window, erosion of the long process of the incus, incudo-mallear dislocation, obliterative otosclerosis. CT is essential for diagnosis. MR imaging is rarely indicated in the work-up of surgical failures. Labyrinthine complications account for less than 20% of surgical revisions. Etiologies of labyrinthine complications are: intravestibular penetration of the prosthesis, perilymphatic fistula, intra-vestibular granuloma, labyrinthitis and intravestibular bleeding. CT and MRI are complementary for the work up of these complications.