[Short-term postoperative outcome of laser-assisted stapedotomy in patients with otosclerosis]

Objective:To assess the short-term efficacy of laser-assisted stapedotomy in patients with otosclerosis. Method:The clinical data of twenty-one patients with otosclerosis who underwent laser-assisted stapedotomy were retrospectively analyzed . Preoperative and 3-month postoperative standardized audiometric evaluations were carried out in all patients. The occurrence of surgical complications was observed. Result:The mean preoperative and postoperative air conduction （AC） thresholds were （58.2±12.7） dB HL and （43.0±23.1）dB HL respectively; the postoperative AC threshold decreased by 15.2 dB HL which was statistically significant at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz （P<0.01）. The mean preoperative and postoperative bone conduction （BC） thresholds were （31.4±10.3）dB HL and （33.3±16.6）dB HL, and there was not significant difference between them as well as BC thresholds at each frequency. Overclosure >10 dB HL was occured in 3 ears （14.3%） while sensorineural hearing loss>10 dB HL was found in 2 ears （9.5%）. The mean ABG decreased by 17.4 dB HL （P<0.01） from preoperative （27.0±9.1） dB HL to postoperative （9.6±9.9） dB HL, and the ABG at each frequency had significant decrease. Fourteen ears （66.7%） had postoperative ABG of ≤10 dB HL while 18 ears （85.7%） had postoperative ABG of ≤20 dB HL. Sensorineural hearing loss occurred in 2 ears （9.5%） after surgery, tinnitus in 15 ears （71.4%） and vertigo in 3 ears （14.3%）. But all were relieved on the third day after operation. Conclusion:Laser-assisted stapedotomy is a safe and effective treatment of otosclerosis. Although BC thresholds was slightly increased after surgery, it did not affect the overall hearing outcomes.