Predictors of hearing outcomes after stapes surgery in otosclerosis

Background: The current surgical treatment of otosclerosis is stapes surgery; however, few studies have reported the predictors of surgical outcomes.Aim/objective: This study aimed to investigate the prognostic predictors for postoperative hearing outcomes.Materials and methods: A total of 181 ears in 152 patients undergoing stapes surgery at a tertiary referral centre in Taiwan from 1996 to 2016 were retrospectively enrolled and preoperative and intraoperative parameters were obtained. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to determine independent predictors of postoperative hearing outcomes. A regression model was also established. Hearing success was defined as a postoperative air-bone gap (ABG) ≤10 dB.Results: In univariate analysis, the absence of floating footplate during surgery (p = .003) and small preoperative ABG (p = .014) were associated with successful hearing outcomes. Multivariate logistic regression analysis further revealed the absence of floating footplate during surgery (p = .010) and small preoperative ABG (p = .015) remained independent predictors of postoperative hearing success.Conclusions and significance: Preoperative audiometric data and intraoperative finding may provide surgeons and patients with a better insight into surgical outcomes.