WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: What do I need to know about a stapedectomy? A stapedectomy is surgery to remove part or all of your stapes and replace it with a prosthesis. The stapes is a horseshoe-shaped bone in your middle ear. Stapedectomy is used to restore your hearing. Surgery is usually done on one ear at a time. How do I prepare for surgery? Your healthcare provider will talk to you about how to prepare for surgery. He may tell you not to eat or drink anything after midnight on the day of your surgery. He will tell you what medicines to take or not take on the day of your surgery. What will happen during surgery? You may be given general anesthesia to keep you asleep and free from pain during surgery. You may instead be given local anesthesia to numb the surgery area. With local anesthesia, you may still feel pressure or pushing during surgery, but you will not feel any pain. Your surgeon will insert a small scope, or use a microscope and tools in your ear. A scope is a small tube with a light and camera on the end. He will remove part or all of the stapes bone and replace it with a prosthesis. Your surgeon will secure the prosthesis and place gauze in your ear. Your ear may be covered with a bandage. What are the risks of surgery? You may bleed more than expected or get an infection. You may be dizzy for several days or weeks. You may have nausea or vomit. Your eardrum may tear. You may have weakness or not be able to move one side of your face. Your sense of taste may change, or you may lose taste on the side of your tongue. You may develop ringing in your ears. Your hearing may not improve with surgery, or it may get worse. In rare cases, you may lose your hearing completely. |