title: Long-term hearing results after stapes surgery: a 20-year follow-up.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of stapes surgery after 20 years of follow-up and to compare the results between large fenestra versus small fenestra stapedotomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective clinical study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary referral center (university hospital).
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred forty-two patients with otosclerosis treated by surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty patients had a total stapedectomy with House-wire prosthesis and 62 patients a stapedotomy with Teflon-piston prosthesis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Preoperative, postoperative, and long-term hearing thresholds were compared. Patients filled in a questionnaire about the impact of surgery on the quality of life and postoperative symptoms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The long-term pure tone average improvement did not differ significantly between the techniques compared with the preoperative values. The air-bone gap tended to enlarge as a function of time. The change in the pure tone average was 0.9 dB per year for both techniques. In the questionnaire, some patients reported vertigo, tinnitus, loud noise intolerance, and taste disturbances. Loud noise intolerance seemed to persist in the long term. Surgery had no effect on preoperative tinnitus.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There were no statistically significant differences between the techniques regarding hearing results. Over the long term, both techniques are safe and effective in restoring hearing and improving quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland. antti.aarnisalo@hus.fi
authors.forename: Antti A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Aarnisalo
authors.forename: Juha-Pekka
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Vasama
authors.forename: Erkki
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hopsu
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ramsay
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D001844:Bone Conduction; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006309:Hearing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009998:Ossicular Prosthesis; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013201:Stapes Surgery / Q000009:adverse effects; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene