Absent Stapedius Muscle and other Rare Congenital Ossicular Anomalies: A Case Series

Abstract

Conductive hearing loss due to ossicular anomalies is generally associated with external auditory canal dysplasia. Congenital ossicular anomalies in isolation are rare and often have a delayed diagnosis, particularly if unilateral. In such cases, the predominant symptom is conductive hearing loss and otosclerosis is usually the major differential diagnosis. We present a series of three cases of congenital ossicular chain anomaly. These patients were initially diagnosed as a case of otosclerosis. However, the diagnosis was revised based on intraoperative findings and managed accordingly.