South Perth Hospital has just acquired a new specialised laser which can be used to treat otosclerosis, a condition where the last bone of hearing (the stapes) is fixed, causing hearing loss. The laser allows the fixed stapes bone to be removed precisely and a new opening created into the inner ear. A special prosthesis called a piston, can then be placed under the microscope.
Dr. Jafri Kuthubutheen was fortunate enough to be the first to utilise this laser at South Perth Hospital which is only the second one of its kind in Western Australia. The laser can also be used to when precise dissection is required, such as in some cases of cholesteatoma. Below is the first case which was performed just prior to Christmas.
