Vestibular dysfunction in patients with otosclerosis after incudostapedopexy – a literature review

Relevance: Otosclerosis (otospongiosis) is a progressive disease characterized by osteodystrophy of the temporal bone (pathological remodelling, during which the dense endochondral layer of the bone labyrinth capsule is replaced by foci of spongy bone tissue) and leads to hearing loss, tinnitus, and dizziness. The standard of surgical treatment of patients with otosclerosis is stapedotomy (incudostapedopexy with calibrated stapedotomy), the goal of which is to removal of the stapes superstructure of and replace it’s with a prosthesis to restore the mobility of the ossicular chain. Despite the proven effectiveness of incudostapedopexy in improving hearing, vertigo remains one of the main complications of stapedial surgery, which can occur either during surgery or in the early postoperative period, or delayed. Aim: to evaluate possible causes of vestibular dysfunction in patients with otosclerosis before and after stapedial surgery to minimize the incidence of this complication. Materials and Methods: literature was searched in PubMed using keywords. Studies were selected after applying of such inclusion criterion as description of the main causes of vertigo as a complication of stapedial surgery. Results: a total of 75 articles that were found by keywords in the electronic database PubMed were analysed, 52 of which met the inclusion criteria. Among the 52 articles that were analysed, 47 articles were relevant for this research topic. Conclusions: understanding the main factors contributing to vertigo in case of performed stapedial surgery is essential for effective diagnosis, treatment, and patient management. Further research and standardized assessment protocols are needed in order to improve treatment of vestibular disorders in patients with otosclerosis.