Ear Surgery Cholesteatoma Tympanoplasty Stapedotomy Exostoses Ventilation Tubes Dr. Mislav Malić Contact
Ear Surgery · Poliklinika Malić

Stapedotomy — Otosclerosis

Endoscopic Treatment of Hearing Loss — Poliklinika Malić, Zagreb

Minimally invasive approach. No external incisions. Precise visualisation. Long-lasting results — hearing improvement in over 90% of cases.

Diagnosis

Otosclerosis — Understanding the Condition

Otosclerosis is a condition in which the bone around the footplate of the stapes (the smallest bone in the human body) gradually ossifies and fixes it, resulting in hearing loss. It occurs more commonly in women, usually between the ages of 20 and 40. Otosclerosis is a progressive disorder of the middle ear in which abnormal bone mass forms around the stapes — restricting the natural vibrations of the ossicles and causing gradual, characteristic conductive hearing loss.

Symptoms of Otosclerosis

This abnormal bone progressively advances and causes:

Stapedotomy is one of my favourite procedures — a very delicate and exceptionally precise operation in which we replace a fixed stapes with a small titanium prosthesis. The hole we make for the prosthesis is less than one millimetre in diameter! Results are mostly excellent, with outstanding hearing recovery. It is one of the procedures with the highest patient satisfaction rate in all of medicine.

Dr. Mislav Malić — specialist in otorhinolaryngology
Surgical Procedure

Endoscopic Stapedotomy at Poliklinika Malić

At Poliklinika Malić we apply endoscopic stapedotomy — an advanced technique for treating otosclerosis that delivers significant advantages. Dr. Mislav Malić applies this advanced technique using state-of-the-art endoscopic technology and 4K systems, achieving exceptional results for each patient individually. Stapedotomy is the surgical method of choice for otosclerosis, where the fixed ossicle is replaced with a prosthesis.

90%+
Long-term hearing improvement
7 days
Hearing improvement begins
<1mm
Procedure precision
Minimally Invasive Approach

The procedure is performed through the ear canal without external incisions — by endoscopic means, without visible scarring.

Improved Visualisation

The use of modern 4K endoscopes enables a clear view of the operative area — precise manipulation of the tiniest structures of the ear.

High-Quality Implants

Use of high-quality titanium or plastic prostheses — a specialised prosthesis transmits sound vibrations to the inner ear.

Reduced Risk of Complications

Better visualisation contributes to greater procedural safety and reduction in the risk of complications when working with the tiniest structures of the ear.

Effective Recovery

Return of hearing begins within a week — faster return to everyday activities thanks to less tissue damage.

Long-lasting Solution

Long-term results with permanent hearing improvement in over 90% of cases — one of the procedures with the highest patient satisfaction rates in medicine.

Procedure Course

How is Stapedotomy Performed?

Stapedotomy is an exceptionally precise procedure requiring both technical virtuosity and excellent knowledge of ear anatomy. Dr. Malić approaches each procedure with full concentration — an operative field the size of half a centimetre conceals a structure less than a millimetre in size that changes the patient's quality of life.

01
Access — Endoscopic approach through the ear canal without external incisions. Gentle displacement of the eardrum for access to the middle ear.
02
Stapes Visualisation — Precise separation of the stapes from the incus with good endoscopic visualisation and careful assessment of fixation.
03
Stapedotomy — Careful removal of the non-functional fixed stapes. The hole in the stapes footplate is less than one millimetre.
04
Prosthesis Insertion — Placement of a specialised high-quality titanium or plastic prosthesis that transmits sound vibrations to the inner ear.
05
Recovery — Hearing improvement begins within a week, with gradual progress continuing throughout the recovery period.

Results and Recovery

After the procedure, a few days of rest are required and intense physical activity should be avoided for a month. Results include:

Dr. Mislav Malić — specialist in otorhinolaryngology
Specialist

Dr. Mislav Malić

Specialist in Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery · FEBORL-HNS · Doctor of Science

Dr. Mislav Malić is the pioneer of endoscopic ear surgery in Croatia with over a thousand procedures performed. Stapedotomy is one of his favourite procedures — he says the hole is less than a millimetre, yet it changes the patient's entire life. He uses the most modern endoscopic systems with 4K visualisation, which enables a precision unattainable by classical microscopic approaches.

He organises international courses in endoscopic ear surgery and is an invited speaker at European congresses. One of the few ENT surgeons in the region who routinely performs endoscopic stapedotomy.

More about Dr. Malić →
Subspecialist Examination

Schedule an Examination

Contact us for a consultation if you have symptoms of otosclerosis — gradual hearing loss, tinnitus or dizziness. Endoscopic stapedotomy represents a safe and effective path to improving your hearing and quality of life.

Schedule an examination →
Other Services

Other Ear Surgery Services

Centre Ear Surgery Procedure Cholesteatoma Procedure Tympanoplasty Procedure Exostoses Procedure Ventilation Tubes