Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Investigate the impact of surgical method on hearing outcomes and complication rates after otosclerosis surgery. METHODS: Records of patients more than 18 years old who underwent otosclerosis surgery were reviewed to identify prosthesis type, surgical approach, post-operative dizziness, overnight admissions and hearing outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 132 stapedotomies were performed with McGee pistons and 144 stapedectomies were performed using ribbon loops. No sensorineural hearing loss was noted with both techniques. Stapedotomy patients had a statistically larger improvement in speech reception thresholds, but there was no significant difference in air-bone gap closure between the two methods. 3.7 per cent of stapedotomy patients experienced post-operative dizziness, which was not significantly different the 7.6 per cent dizzy after stapedectomy (p = 0.2037). Diazepam was prescribed for dizziness in 90.9 per cent (10/11) of dizzy patients with ribbon loops and 0 per cent of those (0/5) with McGee pistons (p = 0.0018). CONCLUSION: Both approaches yielded similarly good air-bone gap closure and were found to be safe and effective with low post-operative dizziness.