Balance after stapedectomy: the measurement of spontaneous sway by posturography

Sway was measured by static posturography in 25 patients undergoing stapedectomy, 16 first-side and nine second-side operations. Measurements were taken pre-operatively and at 1 week and 6 months after surgery, 25 age-matched controls were also tested. In both the first and second side groups, sway was greater at 1 week after surgery than pre-operatively when relying on vestibular function alone (P = 0.01 first-side, 0.05 second-side, 0.01 both sides taken together). By 6 months, sway measurements were no longer significantly different from pre-op or control values. Thus, it appears that there is a measurable increase in patients' sway following stapedectomy but this is well compensated by visual and proprioceptive information, and resolves fully with time. Patients undergoing a second side stapedectomy do not appear to fare worse than those undergoing first-side surgery.