Stapedectomy and Cochlear Function

Abstract

Preoperative and postoperative bone conduction thresholds were measured for 27 subjects with interruption of the ossicular chain who underwent stapedectomy and autotransplantation of ossicles. Only minor changes in bone conducted hearing were observed. This is taken as evidence that no significant impairment of cochlear function occurs following stapedectomy. In a substantial number of subjects hearing acuity for air conducted sound improved considerably. It seems justified to perform stapedectomy and autotransplantation of ossicles in order to produce hearing improvement in suitable cases of interruption of the ossicular chain mechanism.