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Updated: Jul 17, 2026

Step-by-Step Stapedotomy through Transcanal Exclusive Endoscopic Approach
Published on: March 5, 2022
Technical and clinical aspects of 'one-shot' CO(2) laser stapedotomy
1ENT Department, Charité - University Medical Center, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany.
Objective:
In order to further optimize the surgical technique with the CO(2) laser in stapes surgery, a scanner system was used to obtain a footplate perforation of 0.5-0.6mm with only one laser application ('one-shot' stapedotomy).
Study Design:
240 patients with otosclerosis were submitted to a primary CO(2) laser stapedotomy with the SurgiTouch scanner. This study surveys the surgical technique and clinical results.
Results:
An adequately large perforation diameter could be achieved with a single shot in 68% of the patients treated with the SurgiTouch scanner. In 14% of the patients, a second laser application at the same site was necessary. In 18%, the perforation had to be enlarged by several slightly overlapping laser applications without scanner. The clinical data of this study clearly document that there is no evidence of laser-depending inner ear affections. The closure of the air-bone gap in our study is comparable to conventional stapes surgery.
Conclusion:
The CO(2) laser combined with modern scanner systems is well suited for application in stapes surgery.

