Abstract
Ear surgeons are now performing stapedectomy on Japanese more frequently than before, therefore, problems related to this operation have to be given attention.
The author experienced three cases of sudden hearing loss after the initial success and the suspected causes were confirmed at revision operations.
One was the reobliterated oval window by the active foci, as revealed in the specimen taken at the first operation.
The second was a slipped prosthesis (Fat-wire), which led to a perilymphatic fistula.
The third was a perilymphatic fistula around the prosthesis (Tefon-wire). This patient had fluctuant hearing loss and imbalance before the sudden loss of hearing.
Hearing ability after revision operations was unsatisfactly in all cases and in the last case the hearing deteriorated to total deafness.
Thus close care should be taken as to the selection of patients for surgery, surgical procedures, and postoperative management in order to avoid sensori-neural deafness.
