[Surgery of the footplate of the stapes excluding otospongiosis: critical study of a series of 60 cases].

Operations on the foot of the stapes, excluding for otosclerosis, were performed in 60 patients: 5 mobilizations and 55 excisions. Surgery was for aplasia in 7 cases, injury in 5 cases, tympanosclerosis with a closed membrane in 17 cases (mobilization was performed in 5 of these patients), elective excision with a healthy cavity in 16 cases, and 15 involuntary excisions including 10 with an open membrane. Stapedectomy is a serious operation when the ear is open, whether it is performed for simple chronic otitis, or cholesteatomatous or tympanosclerotic otitis, risks being independent of age. The use of an appropriate technique can provide substantial functional gain in aplasias and tympanosclerosis with a closed membrane.