What is ossicular surgery?
Ossicular chain reconstruction (also called middle ear bone surgery) can improve conductive hearing. It can be done to replace a damaged malleus or incus bone. During surgery, you will be given local anesthesia with sedation. Or you may receive general anesthesia. Middle ear bone surgery takes about 1 to 3 hours.
What is ossicular fixation?
Ossicular chain fixation refers to the presence of fibrous tissue (chronic adhesive otitis media) which usually appears as a non-calcified, soft tissue density encasing some or all of the ossicular chain.
What is tympanoplasty with ossicular chain reconstruction?
This procedure involves reconstructing the ear drum (tympanoplasty) and the small hearing bones of the middle ear. The mastoid bone is opened as well to resolve chronic infection.
How is ossicular chain reconstruction done?
The Procedure The eardrum, or tympanic membrane, is carefully elevated from the surrounding canal, and the ossicles are carefully examined and palpated. If the ossicles appear to be in good condition, one of the ossicles be removed, sculpted into proper shape, and repositioned to reestablish an intact ossicular chain.
How many bones are in the ossicular chain?
3 ossicles
There are 3 ossicles — the malleus, incus and stapes. There are two muscles that attach to the ossicles — the tensor tympani, and the stapedius. These muscles work (without much effect) to tighten up the ossicular chain to reduce the impact of loud noise.
Where is the ossicular chain?
middle ear
The ossicles are situated in the middle ear and suspended by ligaments. They articulate with each other through synovial joints to form a chain across the length of the middle ear from the tympanic membrane (laterally) to the oval window (medially).
What is ossicular?
The purpose of the auditory ossicles (also called the ossicular chain) is to transmit sound via a chain reaction of vibrations that connects the eardrum to the inner ear and cochlea.
Where is the ossicular chain located?
What is the ossicular chain made of?
The ossicular chain is a middle ear structure consisting of the small incus, malleus and stapes bones, which transmit tympanic membrane vibrations caused by sound to the inner ear. Despite being shown to be highly variable in shape, there are very few morphological studies of the ossicles.
When is ossicular reconstruction necessary for tympanoplasty?
If the bones of hearing are eroded, then ossicular reconstruction (reconstruction of the bones of hearing) may be necessary at the time of tympanoplasty. In some cases, this can be determined before the surgery. In other cases, it only becomes obvious at the time that the ear is completely opened and examined under the microscope.
How is a tympanoplasty done?
In a tympanoplasty, the surgeon patches a hole within the eardrum that isn’t healing by itself. The surgery is done either through the ear canal or through an incision at the back of the ear. A tissue graft is taken from the patient, usually from behind the ear, and used as the patch. A synthetic material graft may be used also.
How long does it take to recover from tympanoplasty?
After three to four months, water can be allowed to enter the ear and the patient can even return to swimming. If ossicular reconstruction is necessary in the tympanoplasty, then an overnight stay is often recommended.
What are the risks of tympanoplasty surgery?
A total hearing loss from tympanoplasty surgery is rare. This occurs in less than one percent of operations. Postoperative dizziness and imbalance can be present for about a week after surgery and are usually very mild. If the ear becomes infected postoperatively, the risk of dizziness increases.