Complications
Complications of stapedectomy:
- Facial palsy
- Vertigo in the immediate post op period
- Vomiting
- Perilymph gush
- Floating foot plate
- Tympanic membrane tear
- Dead labyrinth
- Perilymph fistula
- Labyrinthitis
- Granuloma (Reparative)
- Tinnitus
When a stapedectomy is done in a middle ear with a congenitally fixed footplate, the results may be excellent but the risk of hearing damage is greater than when the stapes bone is removed and replaced (for otosclerosis). This is primarily due to the risk of additional anomalies being present in the congenitally abnormal ear. If high pressure within the fluid compartment that lies just below the stapes footplate exists, then a perilymphatic gusher may occur when the stapes is removed. Even without immediate complications during surgery, there is always concern of a perilymph fistula forming postoperatively. In a landmark article by Glasscock et al. the overall complication rate for stapedectomy was found to be 45% with a 10% rate of dead ears.
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