Gristwood (1966) reported a 12.5% incidence of obliterated footplates in his series, noting that cases of obliterative otosclerosis were almost invariably diagnosed during adolescence and were associated with the presence of aggressive disease. He found it impossible to predict before surgery on the basis of audiometry and clinical findings that an obliterated footplate awaited This document was downloaded for personal use only. Unauthorized distribution is strictly prohibited.