Clinical aspects of otosclerotic ossicular chain fixations

Otosclerosis is a human-specific ear disease characterised by complex bone-remodelling with multifactorial aetiology. It affects the bony labyrinth capsule and consequently fixates the stapes to the oval window rim. The fixation of the ossicular chain leads to a decrease in the middle ear's acoustic impedance-fitting and amplifier function that leads to conductive hearing loss. The process is progressive and when it involves the inner ear structures, it deteriorates the sensorineural function as well. The course of the illness can be prevented or delayed if hearing reconstructive surgery is performed on time. The development of stapes surgery spans the 20th century, and despite the major surgical steps - laid down by Shea and Marquet in the 1960s - are quite conservative, fine adjustments are still being made mainly due to technical progress. Several studies confirm that stapedotomy remained the first-to-offer therapeutic option in otosclerosis. With an adequate surgical technique, significant improvement can be achieved in the air conduction threshold, the air-bone gap may be minimalized or ceased over the speech frequencies, which significantly improves the quality of life of the patients. In this quest, we reviewed the Hungarian and the international literature as well in context with otosclerosis, with special attention to the newest methods in diagnostics and treatment management. Orv Hetil. 2020; 161(19): 780-788.