Audiometric results after stapedotomy operations in patients with otosclerosis and preoperative small air-bone gaps

Objectives: The efficacy of stapedotomies performed on patients with small air-bone gaps
(<25 dB, sABG) was compared to the efficacy of the operation in patients who had
otosclerosis with high air-bone gaps (≥25 dB, hABG).
Methods: This retrospective study evaluates the short-term postoperative air and bone
conduction thresholds and air-bone gaps after 181 CO2 laser stapedotomies.
Results: A significantly smaller air-bone gap (ABG) and lower air conduction thresholds after
surgery were observed in the group of patients who underwent surgery with preoperative
ABGs of less than 25 dB. Bone conduction thresholds improve in sABG group after surgery.
Conclusions: The results after stapedotomies are good even if the preoperative air-bone gap
is small and that the overall risk of hearing deterioration due to stapes surgery remains low.