Long-term results in otosclerotic patients operated by stapedectomy or stapedotomy

Stapedectomy and stapedotomy are the techniques currently used in the surgical treatment of otosclerosis. During the period 1977-81, a total of 60 consecutive patients were subjected to surgery for otosclerosis according to the method of Schuknecht (Gelfoam and wire prosthesis). Another 55 consecutive otosclerotic patients were operated on during 1987-91with stapedotomy, according to the method advocated by Fisch (Fisch-type piston). Independent of the surgical technique used, the maximal hearing gain was obtained 1 year after surgery. In the frequency range 0.5-3 kHz, the mean value of the averaged pure tone thresholds improved from 52 to 28 dB in the stapedectomy group and from 57 to 26 dB in the stapedotomy group. In the frequency range 4-6 kHz, the subjects' hearing was not significantly improved in the stapedectomy group, whereas the subjects' hearing in the stapedotomy group improved from 61 to 44 dB. Per- and postoperative complications were low in both groups, except for one patient in the stapedectomy group who experienced the serious complication of a deaf ear after surgery.