[Results of three different stapedectomy techniques: a comparative study]

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Surgical Innovation
• Auditory Health

Background:

• Stapedectomy is a common surgical procedure for otosclerosis.
• Various techniques exist, aiming to improve hearing outcomes.
• Comparative data on different stapedectomy approaches is essential for surgical decision-making.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the effectiveness of three distinct stapedectomy techniques.
• To evaluate hearing gain and postoperative complications across different surgical methods.
• To determine if surgical technique or surgeon experience influences stapedectomy outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A comparative study involving 107 ears with total footplate removal, Shea prosthesis, and connective tissue graft.
• Evaluation of 81 ears with partial footplate removal, Shea prosthesis, and no tissue graft.
• Assessment of 66 ears undergoing standard stapedectomy.
• Analysis of air-bone gap closure and postoperative complications.

Main Results:

• No statistically significant differences were observed in air-bone gap closure between the three groups.
• Postoperative complication rates were similar across all evaluated stapedectomy techniques.
• Hearing gain outcomes did not significantly vary based on the surgical method employed.

Conclusions:

• The choice of stapedectomy technique did not yield statistically significant differences in hearing gain or complications.
• Surgical outcomes in stapedectomy appear to be more closely related to the individual surgeon's expertise.
• Further research may explore the impact of surgeon-specific factors on stapedectomy success rates.