Clinical Evaluation of Congenital Stapedial Fixation

Abstract

A non-progressive conductive hearing loss with normal tympanic membrane is highly suggestive of a congenital ossicular malformation. Among the ossicular anomalies, congenital stapedial fixation is not uncommon, and it is clinically important because hearing loss can be corrected by appropriate procedure. We analysed 22 cases of congenital stapedial fixation which were confirmed through the explotympanotomy. We suggest that the diagnostic criteria of congenital stapedial fixation are: (1) non-progressive and bilateral hearing loss since childhood; (2) no history of infection or trauma; (3) conductive hearing loss in the range of 40-60dB with Carhart notch; (4) type As tympanogram; and (5) no ossicular discontinuity on temporal bone CT.