[Otosclerosis surgery: hearing results and complications]

A retrospective study was made of 183 stapedectomies performed at the Santiago de Compostela Hospital from 1989 to 1996. Sixty-seven percent (67.3%) of patients were women and 32.7% were men. Good results were obtained in 87% of cases (79% had an air-bone gap closure difference under 10 dB, and 8% 10-20 dB). Ten pefect had not change in air threshold and the rest deteriorated. There were no significant differences between stapedectomy and stapedotomy. The 4. 000-Hz improvement obtained was inferior to those in 500, 1,000 and 2,000 Hz. In 8.7% of patients with obliterated footplate, heaving outcome was significantly worse. In patients with exposed or overhanging facial nerve, floating footplate, middle ear fibrosis, and necrosis of the long incus process had better results. Total sensorineural hearing loss occurred in 1.1% of cases.