Otosclerosis
Otosclerosis is a condition that affects the stapes, one of the tiny hearing bones in the middle ear.
Hearing is experienced when sound waves enter through the outer ear and are transmitted via the hearing bones (chain of three bones i.e. malleus, incus & stapes) in the middle ear to the cochlea in the inner ear. To have normal hearing, the ossicles need to be able to move freely in order to transfer sound waves to the cochlea.
Symptoms and treatment
Otosclerosis usually affects the ossicle bone called the stapes, which rests in the entrance to the inner ear. In otosclerosis abnormal bone material/sclerotic plaque grows in and around the stapes making it stiff which prevents the movement of the stapes and hence the transportation of sound waves. This process can be very gradual and the main symptom is hearing loss. The hearing loss may remain mild but normally the hearing will deteriorate more and more. It most commonly affects both ears, but not always. This is a disease that affects more women than men.
One of several solutions while diagnosed with otosclerosis is surgery; this surgery is called stapedotomy or stapedectomy. During this surgery all or a part of the stapes is removed and replaced with a tiny prosthesis; which is intended to last a life time. This type of surgery has been performed for decades.
Atos Medical has a partnership with KURZ Medizintechnik in Germany, the leading provider of titanium middle ear prostheses used for stapedioplasty.