Stapedectomy

Stapedectomy
       

• WH Lippy, JM Burkey, AG Schuring, et al (Warren Otologic Group, Ohio)
  Short and Long-term Results of Stapedectomy in Children.
  Laryngoscope 108:569-572, 1998.
      
  Stapedectomy can be a useful treatment for juvenile otosclerosis. However, long term follow-up does reveal progressive hearing loss.
      

• LW Krieger, WH Lippy, AG Schuring, et al (Community Gen Hosp, Syracuse, NY; Warren Otologic Group, Ohio)
  Revision Stapedectomy for Incus Erosion: Long-term Hearing.
  Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 119:370-373, 1998.
       
  Eroded incus is a common problem in revision stapedectomy. 83 patients were followed up from 1 to 20 years.
       
  The risk of incus erosion appears to be decreased with the Robinson prosthesis. The Lippy modified prosthesis yields good long-term outcomes. With subsequent revision, outcomes worsen.
      
  

• JK Thiringer, MA Arriaga (Lackland Air Force Base, Texas; Pittsburgh Ear Associates, Pa)
  Stapedectomy in  Military Aircrew 
  Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg  118:9-14, 1998.
  

    
  Stapedial surgery may pose a considerable risk for those in certain occupations e.g. military aircrews who challenge the function of the cochleovestibular system with each mission.   Aircrew members who have had stapedectomies have been rejected for all flying duties by the surgeon General of the Air Force.  As additional clinical experience was gained, waivers for flight duty were granted on an individual basis.  The aeromedical outcome for aircrew members who returned to flight duty after stapedectomy was reviewed.
   
  Before aircrew members returned to flight duty, patients were subjected to centrifuge and altitude -chamber testing, electronystagmography, rotational chairs, and actual test flights.  In the entire group studied, no episodes of sudden hearing loss or vestibulopathic conditions occurred.