title: Prospective clinical study on cochlear function after erbium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser stapedotomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess whether the application of the emitting erbium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Er:YAG) laser in stapedotomy has negative effects on vestibular and cochlear functions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, with 12 to 14 months follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  Academic tertiary referral center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four patients undergoing stapedotomy (primary surgery) in otosclerosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients underwent Er:YAG laser-assisted stapedotomy for otosclerosis between January 2000 and June 2002.
  
  
  METHODS
  Early (1-3 days after surgery) and late (12-14 months after surgery) postoperative bone-conduction thresholds and the presence of post-operative tinnitus and vertigo were analyzed. In addition, the relation between applied laser energy and postoperative bone-conduction thresholds was calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 22 patients, unchanged preoperative minus early postoperative pure-tone bone-conduction averages at 1, 2, and 4 kHz were observed. In one patient, a slight early deterioration between 10 and 20 dB was seen. In 18 patients, unchanged preoperative minus late postoperative pure-tone bone-conduction averages at 1, 2, and 4 kHz were observed. In two patients, a slight late deterioration between 10 and 20 dB was seen. In two patients, a new postoperative tinnitus was observed. No patient suffered from vertigo at the time of second evaluation. No correlation between applied laser energy and both postoperative bone-conduction thresholds was found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Er:YAG laser stapedotomy in otosclerosis is a safe technique. Vestibular and cochlear function is not significantly disturbed after Er:YAG laser stapedotomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital of Ulm, Frauensteige 12, 89075 Ulm, Germany. tilman.keck@medizin.uni-ulm.de
authors.forename: Tilman
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Keck
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bürner
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rettinger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001844:Bone Conduction / Q000502:physiology*; D015834:Cochlear Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010040:Otosclerosis / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013201:Stapes Surgery / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000209:etiology; D014717:Vertigo / Q000209:etiology; D015837:Vestibular Diseases / Q000209:etiology