Congenital stapes ankylosis is an isolated anomaly of the stapes bone in the middle year. Bony synostosis between the posterior crura and the promontory impairs hearing and conduction threshold. During development, the stapes and otic capsule progress in opposite directions, which causes the mesenchyme of the otic capsule to come in direct contact with the stapedial mesenchyme. These structures later fuse and ossify, leading to ankylosis.
Hearing can be improved, if there is a mobile footplate to which the stapes is attached, including a stapedotomy. Revision surgery may be needed in case of post-inflammatory osteogenic fixation. Post stapedotomy, the stapes can become ankylosed because of degenerative changes and extra bone growth on the surfaces. Here is an interesting case of congenital stapes ankylosis with bony synostosis that caused hearing loss in a 60-year-old female.…
