Juvenile otosclerosis: a case presentation and review of the literature

Otosclerosis in childhood and adolescence or juvenile otosclerosis is a rare disorder resulting in conductive hearing loss. A 9-year-old boy presented to our clinic, suffering from moderate hearing loss. According to his parents, his hearing acuity had progressively deteriorated over the past 2 years. Otoscopy and tympanometry revealed bilateral secretory otitis media and the patient underwent bilateral grommet insertion. However, he continued to report of hearing loss and a right exploratory tympanotomy was performed. Stapedial fixation was confirmed, being compatible with juvenile otosclerosis, and we proceeded to a right stapedotomy. One year later, follow-up showed satisfactory outcome with an air-bone gap closure to 10 dB. Juvenile otosclerosis with the coexistence of persistent secretory otitis media can be overlooked. Affected children from 9 years of age are strongly motivated to undergo stapes surgery for juvenile otosclerosis, following parental consent.