Small Fenestra Stapedotomy Versus Large Fenestra Stapedectomy in Improving Hearing Ability in Patients with Otosclerosis: Our 10 Years Experience

The aim of this study was to review the experience with surgical treatment of otosclerosis over the last 10 years at Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre and to compare it with reported outcomes. A total of 125 patients who had reported between January 2008 and June 2018 were selected for the study. The inclusion criteria for the study included the age group 15-60 years, conductive hearing loss with intact tympanic membrane and an air-bone-gap (ABG) of more than 30 dB. The exclusion criteria included patients below 15 years of age and above 60 years of age, patients with chronic otitis media and the cases of revision stapes surgery. Audiological evaluation was conducted prior to the surgery and post operative audiological evaluation was also performed after 1 month to understand the difference in hearing. In all cases the same surgical technique was used, only the dimension of the foot plate removed varied. Statistical analysis was done using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) (version windows base system, SPSS Inc. Chicago IL USA) software. Mean age in years who underwent surgery is 37.8 +/- 11.4 and duration of disease in months median 36 months (range 1-120 months). Of the 125 patients (42% males and 58% females), 73 patients underwent large fenestra stapedotomy, and 52 patients underwent small fenestra stapedotomy. There was significant improvement in the following hearing parameters studied (puretone average of air conduction thresholds-PTA, ABG) in both the groups after surgery. There was no significant difference between the small fenestra and large fenestra groups with respect to improvement in PTA and ABG. On comparison of SDS (pre and post surgery) statistically significant difference was noted only in small fenestra group. However, this difference of SDS was not significant in between group comparison (stapedotomy versus stapedectomy). In summary both techniques are safe and effective treatment for conductive hearing loss in otosclerosis patients. There appears to be no deleterious effects of either procedures on hearing function. Similar results can be obtained in experienced hands using either technique. The absence of serious complications makes it reasonable to perform stapes surgery in both ears in patients with bilateral otosclerosis with conductive hearing loss.