Revision stapes surgery: problems with some solutions

A review of 217 consecutive revision stapes operations performed during a ten-year period revealed that the surgeon encounters more pathological variables than he does during primary operations. Hence, the technical solutions are less stereotyped and the net results less predictable. Prosthesis displacement, with or without incus tip erosion, was the most common primary cause of failure (82%). However, oval window problems such as footplate refixation, perilymph fistula, otosclerotic regrowth, and lateralized oval window membrane in 60% of cases often complicated prosthesis displacement. First revision operations in 174 cases resulted in postoperative bone-air deficit of 10 dB or less in 65% of cases, much better than the 45% for second revision results, and the 25% for third revisions. These statistics provide our practice with a realistic prognosis when discussing revision stapes surgery with the individual surgical candidate.