CLOSURE OF OPERATIVE FENESTRAE IN THE LABYRINTH

Abstract

Fistulization of the horizontal semicircular canal and production of a fenestra in the labyrinth by covering the artificial opening with some sort of a mobile membrane is an operation which is being performed more and more every day. I am not concerned here with the fact that fistulization produces immediate improvement of hearing in cases of ankylosis of the stapes, nor shall I go into the theories of how this takes place. It suffices to say that immediate improvement occurs when the perilymph is decompressed, and if a sufficiently mobile membrane can be placed over the opening in the labyrinthine capsule the hearing usually remains more or less improved unless something happens to interfere. The greatest difficulty has been that in 2 of every 3 cases the fistula has closed within two months, and in an additional proportion of cases it has closed in six months to a year.¹ If