title: [Stapedotomy outcomes in the treatment of otosclerosis: our experience].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The main objective of our study is to identify whether there is measurable audiometric deterioration in patients undergoing stapedotomy with a follow-up of more than eight years.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a retrospective clinical study in which we reviewed a total of 150 case histories of patients with stapedotomy at our department between 1993 and 1997, with a successful initial audiological assessment using tone audiometry in the first three months after surgery and later audiometrical follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We obtained a significant mean post-operative hearing impairment of 1.02 dB per year, with a pre-operative mean PTA of 51.45 dB, going on to early post-operative mean PTA of 26.71 dB, and later post-operative mean PTA of 35.42 dB, with all these changes turning out to be statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The auditory level obtained after surgery worsens as the years go by, but always without exceeding the hearing loss prior to surgery.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitari Joan XXIII, Tarragona, España. orltarragona@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Jorge L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Merán Gil
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Masgoret Palau
authors.forename: Francisco J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Avilés Jurado
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Domènech Vadillo
authors.forename: Juan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Flores Martín
authors.forename: Enric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Figuerola Massana
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001299:Audiometry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010040:Otosclerosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013201:Stapes Surgery / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome