What surgical procedure involves replacing an ear bone to improve hearing?

The surgical procedure that involves replacing an ear bone to improve hearing is called a stapedectomy. This operation specifically targets the stapes, which is one of the three tiny bones in the middle ear responsible for conducting sound vibrations to the inner ear. When the stapes becomes immobilized due to conditions like otosclerosis, it can lead to hearing loss. In a stapedectomy, the surgeon removes the affected stapes and typically replaces it with a prosthetic device that helps restore sound transmission, thus improving hearing.

Understanding this process is critical for those working in sterile processing, as it underscores the importance of preparing and sterilizing surgical instruments specific to ear surgeries. Other procedures mentioned, such as tympanoplasty and myringotomy, are related to repairing or addressing issues in the eardrum and middle ear space but do not involve the replacement of the stapes bone. Otoplasty focuses on reshaping the outer ear for cosmetic purposes and is not related to the auditory bone structures.