Hearing outcome following laser-assisted stapes surgery

This article reports the postoperative results of 76 operations addressing otosclerosis. All procedures were performed by the same surgeon and took place within a 4-year period. We compared the postoperative audiometric results of 54 laser-assisted procedures with those of 22 nonlaser operations. Our findings revealed a statistically significant improvement in the air-bone gap closure of the laser-operated patients: the air-bone gap was narrowed to within 10 dB in 72% of laser-operated cases versus 54% in nonlaser cases. Furthermore, laser use does not induce high-frequency sensorineural hearing loss. We believe that a laser entails less risk of inner ear microtrauma and improves the accuracy and reliability of stapedotomy.