Evaluation of stapes mobilization in the 21st century for conductive hearing loss in the otosclerotic ear

Purpose: Compare outcomes of stapes mobilization and stapedectomy performed by a single surgeon for the otosclerosis.

Materials and methods: A retrospective chart review of adult patients who underwent stapes mobilization or stapedectomy for otosclerosis was performed. Operative notes reviewed; patients included if diagnosed with otosclerosis without another otologic disease that could contribute to their hearing loss and all required data were available. Pre-and post-operative audiograms at 1, 6, and 12-months were evaluated to compare the air-bone gaps between the mobilization and stapedectomy procedures. The rates of sensorineural hearing loss also were compared. Student t-tests and multiple regression models were used to ascertain the association between improvement in post-operative air-bone gaps, sensorineural hearing loss, and the procedure undertaken.

Results: Sixty-seven (n = 67) patients with 108 procedures were included for analysis. No substantial difference between the surgical subgroups was found when comparing stapes mobilization to stapedectomy, and there was no evidence to suggest that either surgical procedure was superior to the other based on the data obtained and analyzed. Improvements in air-bone gap averaged 15.79 dB for stapes mobilization and 19.23 dB for stapedectomy. The results of the study showed no evidence of post-operative sensorineural hearing loss or change in air-bone gaps when comparing virgin to "revision" stapedectomy largely in patients who had failed previous mobilization.

Conclusion: Stapes mobilization provides a conservative approach to otosclerosis patients suffering from conductive hearing loss. Stapedectomy can be used to correct failed mobilization.