Diagnostic tests for middle ear congenital anomaly

About the department

The Department of Otolaryngology at the Otolaryngology Clinic Munich Odeonsplatz offers a full range of medical services in its area of ​​specialization. The medical facility treats patients with diseases of the ear, throat, and nose. The medical team of the department provides conservative and surgical treatment of ENT diseases. Of special interest is surgery for nasal and paranasal sinus diseases: septoplasty, septorhinoplasty, conchotomy, and rhinoplasty. Specialists have unique professional skills in the surgical treatment of ear diseases. The medical facility also offers conservative treatment for patients with Eustachian tube dysfunction, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), chronic sinusitis, hearing loss, sudden deafness, and obstructive sleep apnea. Doctors always take the time to make a comprehensive diagnosis, after which an effective treatment plan is developed on an individual basis. Diagnostic and therapeutic procedures are performed in strict accordance with current clinical protocols. The department regularly achieves high treatment success rates, which has earned it an excellent reputation in Germany and abroad. The Head Physician of the department is PD Dr. med. Christoph Klingmann.

The department's medical team specializes in the treatment of diseases of the nose and paranasal sinuses. Specialists are often involved in the treatment of nasal deformities, defects, and injuries that require surgery to correct. For example, patients with a deviated septum often seek medical help from the department. This is a congenital or acquired deformity, in which the septum deviates from the midline. The otolaryngologists in the department successfully perform a surgical correction called septoplasty. This surgical procedure is recommended when septal curvature causes difficulty in nasal breathing. Septoplasty is performed under general anesthesia and takes 30-60 minutes. Surgical manipulations are performed inside the nasal cavity, so there is no need for external incisions, which ensures an excellent aesthetic outcome. The department performs septoplasty without a tamponade, a medical procedure to stop massive nosebleeds. This is a great advantage because a tamponade causes serious discomfort to the patient. Full recovery from the procedure takes about 2 weeks. When clinically indicated, septoplasty is performed at the same time as rhinoplasty, an operation to correct or reshape the nose.

The department's specialists also often perform conchotomy, a surgical procedure to reduce the size of the inferior turbinates to facilitate nasal breathing. The inferior turbinates can be enlarged due to chronic inflammatory processes, allergic reactions, congenital anomalies, etc. Conchotomy is performed under local anesthesia on an outpatient basis. The department's doctors perform the operation using various techniques: laser techniques, radiofrequency ablation, or classical surgical techniques. Each method is highly effective and has its own advantages. Whenever possible, laser or radiofrequency conchotomy is preferred because the classical surgery, although it provides a good therapeutic result, requires a nasal tamponade, which is uncomfortable for the patient.

An integral part of the work of the otolaryngologists in the department is the treatment of ear diseases. Of particular clinical interest is the treatment of otosclerosis, a progressive degenerative disease in which the function of the auditory ossicles of the middle ear is impaired, potentially leading to mixed hearing loss. The only effective method of improving hearing in otosclerosis is stapedoplasty. The essence of the surgery is to replace the affected auditory ossicle (stapes) with a prosthesis. Stapedoplasty is performed using microsurgical techniques under local or general anesthesia. The surgery takes 45-60 minutes. Full hearing recovery after surgery takes 4-6 weeks.

The department also has many years of experience in treating cholesteatoma, a benign tumor-like neoplasm of the middle ear consisting of keratinized epithelium (dead skin cells). If the patient does not receive timely treatment, the pathology can affect the auditory ossicles, cochlea, and facial nerve and cause meningitis or facial palsy. Early-stage cholesteatoma causes no symptoms. As it progresses, purulent discharge from the ear and a feeling of fullness in the ear occur, hearing deteriorates, the hearing threshold increases, and dizziness and headaches occur. The only way to treat cholesteatoma is surgery. Surgery is performed under general anesthesia and requires a high level of skill because there is a high risk of damage to nerve endings and blood vessels, as well as to the organ of hearing and balance. When performing surgery, the otolaryngologists of the department perform not only cholesteatoma resection, but also reconstruction of the damaged anatomical structures. The department's specialists demonstrate successful results in the treatment of cholesteatoma, so patients can expect good results and restoration of hearing.

The department's range of medical services includes the following:

• Nasal and paranasal sinus surgery
  • Septoplasty
  • Rhinoplasty
  • Septorhinoplasty
  • Conchotomy
  • Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS)
  • Otoplasty
• Ear surgery
  • Stapedoplasty
  • Cholesteatoma surgical resection
  • Tympanoplasty
  • Hearing improvement surgery
  • Balloon Eustachian tuboplasty
  • Surgery for ear canal stenosis, inflammatory processes, and exostoses
  • Surgery for middle ear myoclonus
• Surgery for cerebrospinal fluid leak of the skull base
• Surgery for salivary gland diseases using neuromonitoring systems
• Surgery for cervical cysts
• Endoscopic laryngeal surgery
• Other medical services