title: [Analysis of results of stapedotomy in patients with obliterative otosclerosis].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In obliterative type of otosclerosis the stapes footplate is greatly thickened and diffusely replaced by a massive otosclerotic masses that fill in the oval window niche, often annular ligament cannot be visualized. In the case of obliterative otosclerosis the only effective way of treatment is surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  The analysed group consisted of 53 patients with primary obliterative otosclerosis. In the control group there were 30 consecutive patients treated for otosclerosis. The auditory organ was assessed on the ground of the following criteria for the frequencies 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 kHz.: 1. Change of pure tone thresholds of air conduction (AC) 2. Change of pure tone thresholds of bone conduction (BC) 3. Change of pure tone thresholds of air-bone gap (ABG) as the difference between the mean AC and BC thresholds before the operation (AC0 and BC0) and 12 months after the operation (AC1 and BC1).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Postoperatively mean value of change of AC thresholds in the analysed group was about 24 +/- 2 dBHL and in the control group about 25 +/- 2 dBHL (no significant difference). In the analysed group the mean value of BC thresholds varied about 8 dBHL and in the control group about 11 dBHL (no significant difference). The average values of ABG after the operation varied about 14 +/- 1 dBHL in both--the analysed and the control group. Postoperatively the mean value ABG was amounted to 20 +/- 1 dBHL in the analysed group and in the control group to 18 +/- 1 dBHL (no significant difference). On the basis of the subjective assessment completely subsidence of aural tinnitus reported 70% patients in the analysed group and 80% patients in the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  1. The incidence of obliterative otosclerosis represents 9,6% of all otosclerotic patients treated surgically. 2. Stapedotomy is the treatment of choice in patients with obliterative otosclerosis, because significant improvement of AC, BC and ABG 12 months after the operation was reported, mean values did not differ between the above and control group. 3. Complete subsidence of aural tinnitus was reported in 70% patients with obliterative otosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Katedra i Klinika Laryngologii Sl.AM w Katowicach.
authors.forename: Tatiana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gierek
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Witkowska
authors.forename: Danuta
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zbrowska-Bielska
authors.forename: Lucyna
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Klimczak-Gołab
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D005260:Female; D006314:Hearing Loss, Conductive / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D006320:Hearing Tests / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010040:Otosclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013201:Stapes Surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome