Which of the following is a normal postoperative finding for up to one year after stapedectomy?

• A. Swelling and noise reduction
• B. Severe pain
• C. High fever
• D. Immediate full hearing recovery

Answer: (A)

After stapedectomy, what you expect to see as the ear heals includes mild swelling around the operative area and gradual changes in hearing. The middle ear has just undergone surgery, so some edema and tissue healing occur, which can be accompanied by a subjective change in how sounds are perceived. It’s common for patients to notice improvements in hearing over weeks to months, and in some cases a reduction in the perception of surrounding noise or tinnitus as healing progresses. This process can continue for up to a year, so swelling with these alterations in hearing are considered normal. In contrast, severe pain, high fever, or an immediate full hearing recovery would be atypical and suggest complications or unrealistic expectations about timing.