LABYRINTHINE, or more accurately cochlear otosclerosis, received much attention during 1965. When this portion of the otosclerotic puzzle is unscrambled, the effect on otology will rival the impact of the fenestration and stapes procedures. Admittedly, our knowledge of this disease is rudimentary, but definite progress toward better diagnosis and understanding of the entity has been made. Of the unsolved problems following stapes surgery—perilymphatic fistula of the oval window membrane, persistent vestibular disturbance, and secondary closure of the oval window by regrowth of otosclerotic bone received careful thought. Various aspects of surgical technique, basic research, etiology, and pathology also received consideration. However, few clear-cut conclusions were reached.
Cochlear Otosclerosis
Until recently, few guidelines were available for the diagnosis of cochlear otosclerosis. Shambaugh1 listed the following clinical manifestations suggesive of a sensorineural hearing loss of otosclerotic origin: (1) a bilaterally symmetrical sensorineural loss without specific etiologic history but with unilateral ankylosis;