Stapedectomy in Turkey: procedure, recovery and cost

Stapedectomy: When and why?

Do you struggle to hear conversations, even when people speak up? Stapedectomy is a surgical option for hearing loss caused by a blockage in the middle ear, typically from otosclerosis, a condition where bone hardens around the stapes.

Otosclerosis accounts for most cases, but stapes fixation can also stem from other causes, such as past head injuries or infections.

The surgeon removes all or part of the fixed stapes and inserts a prosthesis in its place, so that sound vibrations can reach the inner ear again.

If you notice a gradual hearing decline, an ear specialist in Turkey can run the necessary tests and determine whether stapedectomy suits your situation.

Conductive hearing loss: What is it?

Conductive hearing loss happens when sound waves get blocked somewhere between your outer ear and inner ear. Stapes fixation ranks among the most frequent culprits, often caused by otosclerosis.

This bone condition affects the stapes and causes hearing to decline over time. People with otosclerosis typically notice:

• Gradual hearing decline: Conversations fade, the TV feels muffled, radio becomes hard to follow.
• Tinnitus: Unwanted sounds like ringing, whistling or humming that won't go away.
• Vertigo or imbalance: Spinning sensations or feeling off-balance without apparent cause.

Once stapes sclerosis takes hold, surgical intervention usually becomes the most effective path forward.

Causes of otosclerosis

Otosclerosis involves both inherited traits and outside triggers working together. Family history matters significantly, with the condition often running through generations, yet the genetic picture remains complicated. Multiple genes likely contribute, each playing a different role.

Researchers have spotted certain genetic mutations, but exactly how they spark abnormal bone growth remains somewhat mysterious.

Specific viral infections (measles particularly stands out) or hormonal shifts appear to trigger the disease in people already genetically vulnerable. These environmental factors essentially flip a switch in susceptible individuals, activating genes that drive bone overgrowth.

Diagnosis prior to stapedectomy

Otosclerosis causes most stapedectomies, so an accurate diagnosis matters. Your otolaryngologist builds a complete picture in several steps:

• Otoscopic examination: the doctor examines your ear canal and eardrum.
• Audiometry: you sit in a soundproof booth and respond to tones at different frequencies and volumes, which shows how sound is lost (conductive, sensorineural, or a mix).
• Impedancemetry: this test checks whether your eardrum and the tiny ear bones move as they should when sound reaches them.
• CT imaging: high-resolution scans show the fine structures of the ear and help confirm otosclerosis.

Together, these tests clarify your hearing loss pattern and help your surgeon decide whether stapedectomy is suitable.

Alternatives to stapedectomy

Surgery is not always the first step. Other options exist:

• Hearing aids: modern devices amplify sound and are a valid option for many people with conductive hearing loss, including those who prefer not to have surgery.
• Medication: no drug reverses otosclerosis. Some treatments are used to try to slow its progression, with limited evidence. Your specialist can tell you whether they apply to you.

The stapedectomy process in Turkey

Before surgery, a complete hearing evaluation checks that you are a suitable candidate. The operation is performed under local or general anesthesia, depending on your surgeon's practice and your preference.

The surgeon usually reaches the middle ear through the ear canal, lifting the eardrum. The fixed stapes is removed, in whole or in part, and a prosthesis is secured in its place.

The procedure typically takes about one hour.

Post-operative care is simple: wound care and activity restrictions for a few weeks, as your surgeon recommends, allow healing.

Post-operative phase

Most patients go home within a day or two. Recovery continues at home over the following weeks, with ear protection and activity limits as your surgeon recommends.

Like any surgery, stapedectomy carries risks: infection, minor bleeding, temporary dizziness, tinnitus, a change in taste, and rarely facial nerve injury or a permanent loss of hearing in the operated ear. Your surgeon explains the precautions during the consultation.

Hearing improvement develops gradually and can take several weeks. Results vary from one person to another.