Otosclerosis is a metabolic bone disease that causes abnormal bone growth in the ossicles of the middle ear, commonly fixing the stapes bone. It most often presents between ages 15-45 and risk factors include family history and metabolic abnormalities. Symptoms include hearing loss and tinnitus. Diagnosis involves audiometry, otoscopic examination, and CT scan. Treatment options include stapedotomy or stapedectomy surgery as well as hearing aids or fluoride therapy for non-surgical candidates or those who decline surgery. The goal of treatment is to restore hearing by improving sound conduction through the middle ear.
2. Definition:-Definition:-
It is metabolic bone disease ofIt is metabolic bone disease of
the ossicles in which normalthe ossicles in which normal
bone is replaced by abnormalbone is replaced by abnormal
“spongy bone” causing fixation“spongy bone” causing fixation
of the stapes bone.of the stapes bone.
3. Incidence:-Incidence:-
AgeAge
The incidence of otosclerosis increases withThe incidence of otosclerosis increases with
age.age.
The most common age group presenting withThe most common age group presenting with
hearing loss from otosclerosis is 15-45 years,hearing loss from otosclerosis is 15-45 years,
4. EtiologyEtiology
. Unknown. Unknown
Risk factors-Risk factors-
Family historyFamily history
Metabolic, enzyme abnormalatyMetabolic, enzyme abnormalaty
Infectious, virus was identified in theInfectious, virus was identified in the
lesionlesion
AutoimmuneAutoimmune,,
5. PathophysiologyPathophysiology
Due to etiological factorsDue to etiological factors
Distruction of normal bone release enzymesDistruction of normal bone release enzymes
Vestibular & cochlear function impairmentVestibular & cochlear function impairment
CalcificationCalcification(deposition of calcium in the tissue)(deposition of calcium in the tissue)
Fixation of stapes boneFixation of stapes bone
Immobilization of footplate in oval window
6. Clinical manifestation:-Clinical manifestation:-
Hearing lossHearing loss
Schwartz’s signSchwartz’s sign (Normal appearing tympanic membrane(Normal appearing tympanic membrane
(a pink colour is noted through the tympanic membrane)(a pink colour is noted through the tympanic membrane)
Absent acoustic reflexAbsent acoustic reflex
TinitusTinitus
Quiet well modulated voiceQuiet well modulated voice
7. Diagnostic evaluation:-Diagnostic evaluation:-
HistoryHistory
Physical examinationPhysical examination
Schwartze sign is observed in 10% ofSchwartze sign is observed in 10% of
patients).patients).
Rinne test: negativeRinne test: negative
Weber test:Weber test:
AudiometryAudiometry
Otoscopic examinationOtoscopic examination
8. Image studyImage study
CT can characterize the extent ofCT can characterize the extent of
the otosclerotic focus at the ovalthe otosclerotic focus at the oval
windowwindow
CT scan can exclude capsularCT scan can exclude capsular
involvement when patients haveinvolvement when patients have
significant mixed hearing losssignificant mixed hearing loss
An enlarged cochlear aqueductAn enlarged cochlear aqueduct
may be seen which potentialmay be seen which potential
causes perilymph gusher duringcauses perilymph gusher during
footplate fenestration or removal.footplate fenestration or removal.
It reveal normal round window andIt reveal normal round window and
normal mastoid pneumatization.normal mastoid pneumatization.
9. Differential diagnosisDifferential diagnosis
Ossicular discontinuityOssicular discontinuity
conductive loss of 60 db usually withoutconductive loss of 60 db usually without
sensorineural componentsensorineural component
flaccid tympanic membrane on pneumaticflaccid tympanic membrane on pneumatic
otoscopyotoscopy
type Ad tympanogramtype Ad tympanogram
10. Differential diagnosisDifferential diagnosis
Congenital stapes fixationCongenital stapes fixation
Family history less likely (10%)Family history less likely (10%)
usually detected in the first decade of lifeusually detected in the first decade of life
25% incidence of other congenital anomalies25% incidence of other congenital anomalies
(3% for juvenile otosclerosis)(3% for juvenile otosclerosis)
non-progressive CHLnon-progressive CHL
11. Differential diagnosisDifferential diagnosis
Malleus head fixationMalleus head fixation
when congenital, associated with otherwhen congenital, associated with other
stigmata (aural atresia)stigmata (aural atresia)
presence of tympanosclerosispresence of tympanosclerosis
pneumatic otoscopypneumatic otoscopy
almost always associated with type Asalmost always associated with type As
tympanogram (only in advanced otosclerosis)tympanogram (only in advanced otosclerosis)
12. Differential diagnosisDifferential diagnosis
PagetPaget’’s diseases disease
- diffuse involvement of the bony skeleton- diffuse involvement of the bony skeleton
- elevated alkaline phosphatase- elevated alkaline phosphatase
- CT - diffuse, bilateral, petrous bone involvement- CT - diffuse, bilateral, petrous bone involvement
with extensivewith extensive
-de-mineralization-de-mineralization
- More commonly crowds the ossicles in the- More commonly crowds the ossicles in the
epitympanum, partially fixingepitympanum, partially fixing
the ossicular chainthe ossicular chain
13. Differential diagnosisDifferential diagnosis
Osteogenesis imperfectaOsteogenesis imperfecta
presence of blue sclerapresence of blue sclera
h/o of multiple bone fracturesh/o of multiple bone fractures
CTCT –– more common involves the otic capsulemore common involves the otic capsule
and to a greater extentand to a greater extent
14. Surgical interventionsSurgical interventions
The best surgical candidateThe best surgical candidate
good health with a socially unacceptablegood health with a socially unacceptable
ABG,ABG,
a negative Rinne test,a negative Rinne test,
excellent discrimination,excellent discrimination,
the desire for surgery after an appropriatethe desire for surgery after an appropriate
period of time for deliberation.period of time for deliberation.
Younger patients are more likely to developYounger patients are more likely to develop
re-ossification of the stapes footplate overre-ossification of the stapes footplate over
their lifetime.their lifetime.
15. Surgical interventionsSurgical interventions
Most authors discourage performingMost authors discourage performing
stapes surgery in patients with Meniere'sstapes surgery in patients with Meniere's
disease, especially when it is active.disease, especially when it is active.
16. Surgical interventionsSurgical interventions
StapedotomyStapedotomy
Less trauma to the ovalLess trauma to the oval
windowwindow
Less possibility ofLess possibility of
damaging to the inner eardamaging to the inner ear
In addition, revisionIn addition, revision
surgery, if required, issurgery, if required, is
easier due to preservedeasier due to preserved
anatomyanatomy
stapedectomystapedectomy
18. Non-surgical interventionsNon-surgical interventions
Amplification:Amplification: hearing aidehearing aide
Patients who do not want to undergo surgeryPatients who do not want to undergo surgery
for otosclerosisfor otosclerosis
patients who are not fit for surgery.patients who are not fit for surgery.
19. Non-surgical interventionsNon-surgical interventions
Medical treatment:Medical treatment:
Usual dose is about 20-120mg of fluoride a dayUsual dose is about 20-120mg of fluoride a day
Efficacy of the treatment can be evaluated 2 yearsEfficacy of the treatment can be evaluated 2 years
later.later.
SchwartzeSchwartze’’s sign, and the degree of tinnitus and imbalances sign, and the degree of tinnitus and imbalance
are reassessed, and a CT scan is repeated.are reassessed, and a CT scan is repeated.
Once the disease was stable, the patient is placed onOnce the disease was stable, the patient is placed on
a life-ling maintenance dose of about 25mg of fluoridea life-ling maintenance dose of about 25mg of fluoride
a day.a day.
50% of patients have stabilization of their disease,50% of patients have stabilization of their disease,
30% improve, and the rest continue to progress.30% improve, and the rest continue to progress.
20. Non-surgical interventionsNon-surgical interventions
Indications for medical treatmentIndications for medical treatment
Not surgical candidates,Not surgical candidates,
Decide against surgery,Decide against surgery,
Patient with SNHL or vestibular symptomsPatient with SNHL or vestibular symptoms
positive Schwartzepositive Schwartze’’s sign may be given fluorides sign may be given fluoride
treatments for 6-12 months prior to surgery to inducetreatments for 6-12 months prior to surgery to induce
the focus to mature and potentially prevent thethe focus to mature and potentially prevent the
progression of disease after surgery.progression of disease after surgery.
determined to be active during surgery, postoperativedetermined to be active during surgery, postoperative
treatment can be initiated.treatment can be initiated.