title: Stapes surgery: a 32-year follow-up.
abstract: Despite a widespread use of stapes surgery, little is known about the long-term durability of hearing results. The present study provides data over a long time frame (32 years) on hearing changes following surgical treatment. During a 10-year period (1965-1975) stapes surgery was performed in 322 consecutive patients in Tampere University Hospital, Finland. Postoperative evaluation was performed in the same hospital during the years 2001 and 2002 in 58 patients (41 females, 17 males). Of these 58 patients, 68 ears were operated decades ago (stapedoplasty in 67 ears and stapes mobilization in one ear). The mean follow-up time at the latest visit was 32.9 years. At the long-term follow-up, we found that the operative result was very well maintained: 37% of the patients had air-bone gap closure less than 10 dB. Most of the patients (83%) reached postoperative (6-12 months) air-bone gap closure less than 20 dB. The result was maintained by 75% of the patients. Stapes surgery gives a rise to a better social life for the hearing-impaired patient and delays the need for hearing aid in most patients.
authors: Department of Eye, Ear and Oral Diseases, Medical School, Tampere University and Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland. tapiokarhuketo@hotmail.com
authors: Tapio S
authors: TS
authors: Karhuketo
authors: Jari
authors: J
authors: Lundmark
authors: Johanna
authors: J
authors: Vanhatalo
authors: Markus
authors: M
authors: Rautiainen
authors: Markku
authors: M
authors: Sipilä
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010040:Otosclerosis / Q000601:surgery; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013201:Stapes Surgery; D013997:Time Factors