Ossicular Reconstruction (Ossiculoplasty) Patient Information Leaflet 1. Why am I being offered ossicular reconstruction? You have hearing loss caused by damage or disruption to the ossicles — the three tiny bones in the middle ear ( malleus, incus, and stapes ) that transmit sound from the eardrum to the inner ear. This damage may be due to: Chronic ear infections Cholesteatoma Previous ear surgery Long-standing eardrum perforation Trauma or erosion of the hearing bones Ossicular reconstruction (ossiculoplasty) is a surgical procedure designed to improve hearing by rebuilding this sound-conduction mechanism. 2. What is ossicular reconstruction? Ossiculoplasty involves repairing or replacing one or more of the hearing bones using either: Your own tissue (e.g. reshaped ossicles or cartilage), or A biocompatible prosthesis (most commonly titanium) The operation is usually performed alongside: Eardrum repair (tympanoplasty), and/or Mastoid surgery (especially if cholesteatoma i...
Are labyrinthitis and vertigo the same? The ear has three main parts: the outer ear, the middle ear, with small bones of hearing, and the inner ear, consisting of the labyrinth. The labyrinth has two parts as well, hearing processing part and balance part. When you get an infection in the inner ear, it is often called labyrinthitis. Common symptoms for Labyrinthitis are hearing loss or vertigo, however, there are also other causes for vertigo as well. What is the most important thing to remember when you have labyrinthitis symptoms? In the first few hours of symptoms, it is difficult to know between stroke and labyrinthitis. If you have vertigo and notice one side of your face becoming droopy, your arms or leg become weak and speech becomes slurred, you should call for urgent help. What is the difference between labyrinthitis and vestibular neuritis? If you only have vertigo symptoms, then it is due to vestibular neuritis. Vestibular neuritis oc...