[Stapedotomy outcomes in the treatment of otosclerosis: our experience].

Objective: The main objective of our study is to identify whether there is measurable audiometric deterioration in patients undergoing stapedotomy with a follow-up of more than eight years.

Material And Method: We conducted a retrospective clinical study in which we reviewed a total of 150 case histories of patients with stapedotomy at our department between 1993 and 1997, with a successful initial audiological assessment using tone audiometry in the first three months after surgery and later audiometrical follow-up.

Results: We obtained a significant mean post-operative hearing impairment of 1.02 dB per year, with a pre-operative mean PTA of 51.45 dB, going on to early post-operative mean PTA of 26.71 dB, and later post-operative mean PTA of 35.42 dB, with all these changes turning out to be statistically significant.

Conclusions: The auditory level obtained after surgery worsens as the years go by, but always without exceeding the hearing loss prior to surgery.