Synonym: otospongiosis
Otosclerosis (OTSC) is the single most common cause of hearing impairment. It is a genetically mediated metabolic dysplasia, affecting the bony tissue of the otic capsule (the skeletal elements enclosing the inner ear mechanism) and the auditory ossicles. The otic capsular bone is unusual in that, following early development, it does not undergo extensive remodelling. In OTSC there is a pathological increased bony turnover leading to sclerosis and failure of the sound conduction mechanism, due to ankylosis of the stapes footplate in the fenestra ovalis of the cochlea. This produces a slowly progressive conductive hearing impairment. In some cases, the disease process may also extend from bony tissue to the cochlea itself, causing a mixed conductive and sensorineural hearing loss.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original article at https://patient.info/doctor/ear-nose-throat/otosclerosis-pro