Hearing Results after Stapedotomy in Stapes Fixation / 대한이비인후과학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Many studies have demonstrated that stapedotomy is a successful means of improving hearing for stapes fixation. The aim of this study was to analyze the pre and post-operative hearing improvements and causes of unsuccessful cases after stapedotomy. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: We reviewed the medical records and video recordings of 38 patients(39 ears) retrospectively who underwent stapedotomy between January 1994 and March 2006. Beside stapes fixation, patients, having other ossicular anomaly, stapes fixation in chronic middle ear disease and past history of ear surgery, were excluded. Patient ages ranged from 6 to 60 years, with the patients consisting of 15 males, 16 ears and 23 females, 23 ears. Observation ranged from 8 to 50 months and the mean observation time was 15.4+/-11.6 months. Hearing improvements at the final examination were designated as successful when air-bone gap was reduced to 20 dB or less. RESULTS: Pre-operative mean bone and air conduction thresholds were 21.6+/-10.8 (mean+/-SD) dBHL, 53.4+/-12.1 dBHL respectively and mean air-bone gap were 31.8+/-8.8 dB. After stapedotomy, mean bone and air conduction thresholds were 17.6+/-9.0 dBHL, 29.6+/-11.9 dBHL respectively and mean air-bone gap were 11.5+/-7.1dB at the last audiologic follow-up. Successful hearing improvements were achieved in 36 ears (92.3%). Three patients underwent revision surgery. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that stapes surgery is successful for hearing improvement for stapes fixation with unknown etiology.