Traumatic Fracture of the Stapes Footplate; A Case Report

Abstract

A case of fracture of the stapes footplate with ossicular disruption and perilymph fistula caused by earpick-induced trauma is reported. A 51-year-old female was presented with hearing loss and vertigo just after sticking an ear pick into her left ear. Pure tone audiometry showed a mixed hearing loss of 67.5dB. Nystagmus was not observed, and vertigo improved in a week. On exploratory tympanotomy, the fracture of the stapes footplate accompanying a dislocation of the incudo-stapedial joint and perilymphatic leakage from the oval window were found. The perilymph fistula was sealed with temporal fascia, and ossicular chain continuity was reconstructed by type N tympanoplasty. After the operation, the cochlear and vestibular symptoms improved.