Otosclerosis is a disease of the bone capsule of the inner ear. In this disease, on the one hand, there is a destruction of the bone tissue in the bone capsule, and on the other hand, the formation of a new bone with a different structure continues in place of the destroyed bone. Although otosclerosis is generally described as calcification of the ear ossicles, it is not actually calcification. There is only new bone formation. Otosclerosis is a disease seen only in humans. It is clinically characterized by gradually progressive conductive hearing loss. When the disease affects the stirrup bone, it prevents the bone from moving and causes conductive hearing loss.
The cause of otosclerosis is not exactly known. It is accepted that the measles virus plays a serious role in the formation of the disease. Hereditary factors also have serious importance. Otosclerosis disease is an autosomal dominant hereditary disease. It is known that fluoride deficiency also affects the formation of the disease.
Otosclerosis disease is more common in women than in men. The female/male ratio is approximately 2/1. The most common age is between 15-45 years.
WHAT ARE THE SIGNS AND FINDINGS OF OTOSCLEROSIS AND HOW IS IT DIAGNOSED?
In Otosclerosis The typical history is the presence of progressive hearing loss, which usually begins in the 20s. Hearing loss is bilateral in 70% of patients. Tinnitus along with hearing loss is observed in 75% of patients. Some of the patients have a similar disease in their families.
The eardrum is normal in the ear examination of the patients. Rarely, during the active phase of the disease, a red highlight may be seen behind the eardrum. In the hearing test, a conductive hearing loss is observed. In tympanometric examination, type As tympanogram is obtained and acoustic reflexes cannot be obtained.
The following should be considered in the differential diagnosis.
Congenital stapes fixation
Tympanosclerosis
Disruption of ossicular chain integrity
Osteogenesis imperfecta
Superior canal dehiscence syndrome
IN AUTOSCLEROSIS TREATMENT
There is no treatment for otosclerosis itself. The treatment is the treatment of hearing loss caused by otoslerosis. There are two options for this. The first is the correction of hearing loss surgically, and the second is the correction of hearing loss with the use of hearing aids.
The surgery performed in otosclerosis is called stapedectomy surgery. In this surgery, the stirrup bone that does not move due to the disease is removed and a prosthetic bone is placed in its place. It is a surgery with a very high success rate. Hearing improvement is achieved in 95% of patients. Rarely (1%), patients may develop permanent inner ear hearing loss in the operated ear.
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