title: Diode laser in otosclerosis surgery: first clinical results.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the functional results of otosclerosis surgery using diode laser.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective cohort analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred seven patients operated on for otosclerosis with a diode laser (119 ears, all primary cases) and 141 patients operated on with a conventional technique (141 ears, all primary cases). Revision cases using the diode laser were also described.
  
  
  METHODS
  Preoperative tomographic computed scan findings and intraoperative observations were collected. Pure-tone and vocal audiometry was performed preoperatively and postoperatively (at 3 mo and 1 yr).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the laser group, the air-bone gap was 29 +/- 0.8 dB (n= 112) preoperatively and 9 +/- 0.6 dB (n = 58) at 1 year. Air conduction was improved by 22 +/- 1.7 dB at 1 year (n = 58). In the conventional group, the air-bone gap was 32 +/- 0.9 dB (n=127) preoperatively and 10 +/- 0.6 dB (n = 127) at 1 year. Air conduction was improved by 25 +/- 1.1 dB (n = 127) at 1 year. No difference of hearing gain was observed between the 2 groups at 1 year. A decreased rate of footplate fracture was observed with the diode laser (3.6%) compared with the conventional technique (21.3%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Diode laser is a reliable and safe device for otosclerosis surgery. The functional results were similar to those reported in other series.
authors.affiliation: Hôpital Beaujon, Service d'ORL et de chirurgie cervico-faciale, Clichy, France.
authors.forename: Yann
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: Alexis Bozorg
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Grayeli
authors.forename: Rafik
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Belazzougui
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bouccara
authors.forename: Mustapha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Smail
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sterkers
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001299:Audiometry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D053685:Laser Therapy; D054023:Lasers, Semiconductor; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013506:Otologic Surgical Procedures; D010040:Otosclerosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome