Quality of life following small fenestra stapedotomy.
OBJECTIVE
A cross-sectional observational study was designed to evaluate patient satisfaction after stapedotomy.


METHODS
Two validated questionnaires, the Psychosocial Impact of Assistive Devices Scale (PIADS) and the Hearing Handicap Inventory (HHI), were used to assess patients for whom audiometric data were available.


RESULTS
The response rate was 79%. The PIADS score showed that 96% of patients reported an improvement in quality of life. The HHI score, however, showed that 32% of patients still experienced a marked degree of handicap after surgery. The HHI scores correlated positively with postoperative audiometric data, and the PIADS scores correlated positively with the degree of change in audiometric data.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study support the role of small fenestra stapedotomy as a primary treatment for otosclerosis. The study also identifies a certain subpopulation of patients with residual handicap who may require further aural rehabilitation.
Chandarana
Shamir
S
Department of Otolaryngology, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.
Parnes
Lorne
L
Agrawal
Sumit
S
Fung
Kevin
K
D000328:Adult; D001299:Audiometry; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010040:Otosclerosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012086:Reoperation; D013200:Stapes Mobilization / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires