Status of Stapes Surgery, 1961

Introduction From indirect mobilization, in 1953,1-3to stapedectomy and prosthetic replacement,4in 1958, stapes surgery for otosclerosis has evolved into a complex, multitechniqued, difficult surgical discipline. Reports in the literature vary from conservative to radical surgical procedures depending upon the pathology encountered, with a few surgeons advocating the more radical stapedectomy for all cases of otosclerosis, irrespective of the area and degree of footplate involvement.5,6Materials of fat, vein, absorbable gelatin sponge (Gelfoam), polyethylene, and wire, both stainless and tantalum, have been used as replacement for all or a part of the stapes. No comprehensive compilation of the methods and results of a large number of otologists has been published, and it is the purpose of this paper to present such data. Purpose For the majority of surgeons questioned, the extent and location of the otosclerotic lesion of the footplate determines what the procedure of choice