WITHDRAWN: Management of Congenital Incudostapedial Anomalies in Stapes Surgery

OBJECTIVES:: The management of developmental anomalies of the ossicular chain and otic capsule in stapes surgery tests the otologist's diagnostic skills and flexibility in technique and prosthesis choice. Although congenital malleus fixation and perilymph gusher are important clinical entities that have received considerable attention in the otolaryngology literature, congenital anomalies of the incus and stapes are less well described, can often be subtle, and have a distinct influence on management choice and hearing outcome. STUDY DESIGN AND PATIENTS:: A review of more than 200 stapes procedures yielded eight cases of identified congenital anomalies of the stapes or incudostapedial complex including congenital absence of the oval window with malformed incus and stapes, columellar-type stapes with promontory fixation, stapes superstructure fixation to the fallopian canal, and malformed incus with stapes superstructure fixation to the promontory. The developmental anatomy and surgical technique in each case are reviewed and hearing outcome is presented. RESULTS:: The surgical technique used in each case varied depending on the nuances of the ossicular anomaly and whether both the stapes and incus were affected. All eight ears (seven patients) that underwent a stapes procedure for either an isolated congenital stapes anomaly or a combined incudostapedial anomaly had a favorable hearing outcome with seven ears improving to within 10-dB and one ear to within 13-dB air-bone gap on postoperative audiometry. CONCLUSION:: Despite unanticipated findings of congenital anomalies of the stapes and incus during middle ear exploration for conductive hearing loss, a flexible management approach can lead to successful hearing outcomes.