[Results of 769 stapedectomies performed between 1975 and 1993]

A retrospective review was made of 719 primary stapedectomies and 48 re-operations carried out between 1975 and 1993. Preoperative and postoperative audiograms (6-12 months) were studied, analyzing 250, 500, 1000, 2000 and 4000 Hz, auditory gain and closure of the air-bone gap < or = 10 dB. Ninety percent had an auditory gain of > or = 10 dB at conversational frequencies. Age, the surgeon, and average preoperative pure tone did not influence the final result. Polyethylene prostheses (70.9%) and steel and teflon pistons (21.1%) were the prostheses used most often. Neurosensorial hearing loss (> 10 dB) occurred in 24 cases (3.3%). In revision stapedectomy, 66.6% of patients had air-bone gap closure of < or = 20 dB and 71% had a hearing gain of < or = 10 dB. Prosthesis displacement (43.7%) and incus necrosis (18.7%) were the most common findings in revision stapedectomy.