Factors Affecting the Outcome of Stapes Surgery

To study the outcome of stapes surgery based on the Clinical, Audiometry, and Surgical pre- and postoperative factors. This study is a prospective study of factors affecting the outcome of stapes surgery in otosclerosis patients. From February 2010 to June 2011, 57 patients of confirmed clinical otosclerosis were analysed. Out of them, 31 patients were included in our study as were available for follow-up. Clinical, audiometry and surgery-related parameters were included to assess the surgery outcome. Results were reported as suggested by AAO-HNS (American Association of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery) guidelines for stapes surgery, 1995. The paired t-test and analysis of variables test (ANOVA) were used to evaluate the results. A p value of <0.05 was considered significant. There was statistically significant improvement in ABG (air bone gap) closure at 3 months of surgery (p value <0.001). Among all cases, PTA BC (pure tone average bone conduction) at 3 months of surgery was found in the range of 7.5 dB to 43.75 dB. ABG closure was achieved in the range of 0 dB to 27.5 dB among all cases. Variables like gender, degree of hearing loss, type of footplate, sealing material, and piston diameter were definitely predicting the outcome of stapes surgery. Pure tone audiometry plays an important role to diagnose the otosclerosis, to evaluate degree and type of hearing loss and to assess hearing outcome after surgery. Our results may improve knowledge of predictive factors, providing the surgeon with useful information to plan surgery with a better case selection as well as to counsel the patient on the likelihood of success of the procedure.