Inner Ear Surgery - Fenestration Surgery in Zirakpur

Why Do People Get Inner Ear Surgery?

Undergoing inner ear operations like fenestration is mainly to treat hearing loss that did not get better with minimally invasive treatments. Specific indications include the following:

• Otosclerosis: It is a condition where a person experiences hearing loss due to an abnormal growth of the stapes bone (of the middle ear). Fenestration can bypass the affected region, letting sounds reach the inner ear more effectively.
• Chronic ear functions: Hearing may also be impacted by chronic ear infections due to the resulting scarring and damage. Surgery can remove the scar tissue or bypass the damaged areas.
• Congenital ear abnormalities: Surgery might be used to treat people who are born with ear abnormalities that influence their hearing.
• Improve hearing: Lastly, it may be used to improve hearing when the other treatment options have failed. 

The final decision of whether the procedure would be apt to manage your condition will be taken by the surgeon after a thorough evaluation.

Inner Ear Surgery - What You Can Expect?

Here’s what you can expect before, during, and after an internal ear surgery (fenestration):
Before Surgery (How to prepare for the surgery)

Here’s what to expect before an inner ear surgery:

• Hearing evaluation: The specialist examines your hearing ability and overall health to confirm your eligibility for the procedure.
• Medical examination: Your doctor will recommend certain tests such as blood and imaging tests to assess your general health. He/she will also explain the procedure in detail along with the expected outcomes.
• Pre-Surgery Instructions: Your healthcare provider will provide specific instructions to prepare for the surgery. This may include guidelines on eating and drinking before the procedure, medications to avoid, and any necessary preparations for aftercare.

During Surgery (Procedure Steps)

Here’s an overview of the steps involved in an inner ear surgery:

• Anesthesia: Usually, general anesthesia is administered for inner ear surgeries, but local anesthesia with sedation may also be given for less invasive procedures.
• Surgical access: An incision is made near or behind the ear, depending on the target structure and the type of surgery, to get access to the surgical site. 
• Procedure specific steps:
• Stapedectomy: Part or all of the stapes bone is replaced with a prosthetic device.
• Cochlear implantation: A small opening is created in the cochlea to allow insertion of the implant’s electrode array.
• Tympanoplasty: The tympanic membrane (eardrum) is repaired or reconstructed, sometimes along with the ossicles.
• Ossiculoplasty: This procedure repairs of replaces the damaged middle ear bones.
• Labyrinthectomy: Here the labyrinth, a portion of the inner ear is removed to manage issues with hearing and balance. 
• Closure: Sutures or staples are used to close the incisions. Sometimes, a packing material may also be placed in the ear canal to allow healing, for procedures where the middle ear or the eardrum were involved.   

After the procedure, the patient is moved to a recovery room and his/her vitals are monitored. Then s/he is either allowed to go back home or made to stay back in the hospital for further recovery. 

After Surgery (Recovery and Outlook)

The recovery after inner ear surgery is crucial to ensuring the best possible outcomes and the least complications. The recovery after inner ear surgery is as follows:

• Post-operative monitoring: The patients are monitored closely after the procedure in order to check for any immediate complications such as bleeding or pain.
• Immediate postoperative care: Some amount of pain and discomfort is common after the procedure. This can be managed with the help of prescribed medications.
• Recovery at home: Recovery at home is about taking proper rest to facilitate healing, avoiding strenuous activities like heavy lifting and bending, and taking proper care of the ear by keeping the surgical site clean and dry. 
• Hearing Rehabilitation: If the surgery was aimed at improving hearing, patients may undergo hearing rehabilitation therapy to adjust to any changes in hearing and maximize outcomes.
• Balance Rehabilitation: For surgeries affecting balance, patients may undergo balance rehabilitation therapy to regain stability and minimize dizziness or vertigo symptoms.

Recovery time as well as the results can vary from person to person. It is important that you remain patient and follow all given instructions to make the surgery a success.