Osteogenesis Imperfecta: Light and electron microscopic studies of the stapes

Abstract

The light and electron microscopic findings in the stapes from a patient with osteogenesis imperfecta are correlated with the findings in the normal and otosclerotic stapes. In osteogenesis imperfecta there is a quantitative, but not qualitative change of the bony tissue. The histological findings in patients with osteogenesis imperfecta reported in the otosclerotic literature are reviewed. The conductive hearing loss in patients with osteogenesis imperfecta is occasionally due to an otosclerotic focus, in other cases to fibrous degeneration of the stapedial crura.