A stapedectomy (say "stay-puh-DEK-tuh-mee") is surgery in your ear. It removes a small bone, called the stapes, from the middle ear. The middle ear contains three bones: the stapes, the incus, and the malleus. These bones help with hearing. This surgery is done when the tissue around the stapes (say "STAY-peez") hardens and prevents the stapes from working as it should. The doctor will replace the stapes with an artificial stapes. This is called a prosthesis.
You will get medicine to make you sleep or feel relaxed during the surgery. You will not feel pain. The doctor will use a microscope and place small surgical tools through the opening in your ear canal to do the surgery. The doctor may use a small piece of tissue from your ear to help attach the prosthesis and repair the middle ear.
The surgery usually takes 1 to 2 hours. When it is done, the doctor will put foam packing or ointment in the outer ear canal. Sometimes the packing needs to be removed, but usually the doctor uses a packing that will dissolve over time.
You will probably go home from the hospital the same day. Most people are able to go back to work or their normal routine in about 1 week. But if your job requires strenuous activity or heavy lifting, you may need to take more time off.
Surgery can be stressful. This information will help you understand what you can expect. And it will help you safely prepare for surgery.
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A stapedectomy (say "stay-puh-DEK-tuh-mee") is surgery to remove a small bone, called the stapes, from the middle ear. The middle ear contains three bones: the stapes (say "STAY-peez"), the incus, and the malleus. These bones help with hearing. This surgery is done when the tissue around the stapes hardens and prevents the stapes from working correctly. The doctor replaces the stapes with an artificial stapes, called a prosthesis.
You may have some ear pain or a headache and be slightly dizzy for several days after the surgery.
Your ear will probably feel blocked or stuffy. This usually gets better as the eardrum heals and the foam packing or ointment dissolves. The packing will dissolve about 1 to 2 weeks after surgery. Some bloody fluid may drain from your ear for a few days after surgery.
Your hearing may improve right away. But often it takes about 2 to 4 weeks to notice a difference. Hearing often continues to improve in the 2 months after surgery.
While you are healing, it's important to avoid getting water in your ear. Your ears may be very sensitive to noise at first. Try to avoid places that are very noisy.
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