Post-stapedectomy reparative granuloma: a misnomer

The pathophysiology of so-called ‘reparative granuloma’ occurring after stapedectomy has not been determined and universally accepted management of this rare complication has not yet been established. A case is presented in which a mass developed in the middle ear after the use of a fat/wire prosthesis in a stapedectomy. Histological assessment revealed nonspecific granulation tissue and fat necrosis. It is suggested that ‘reparative granuloma’ is a misnomer as there is no microscopic evidence in this case nor in the literature of granulomatous formation. The condition may follow stapedectomy or stapedotomy. Furthermore, the name leads to confusion with a different condition, giant cell reparative granuloma, which involves the jaws and rarely the temporal bone. An alternative name, ‘Stapes surgery induced granulation tissue’ (SSIG) is therefore suggested for this condition.