[Surgical treatment of otosclerosis]

A significant step forward in otosclerosis surgery was made in 1956 with the advent of stapedectomy. This led to a significant reduction in surgical complications and to a high level of patient satisfaction. Hearing aids are the alternative to surgery, and have themselves undergone considerable technical improvements. In advanced otosclerosis, cochlear implants can improve hearing when stapes surgery and a conventional hearing aid are inadequate. These advances are modifying the surgical indications.