Stapedectomy in children: causes and surgical results in 35 cases.
OBJECTIVE
To study children who had undergone stapedectomy at an age younger than 16 years to determine the causes (particularly frequency of congenital anomalies vs otosclerosis) and to analyze the functional results over the short-term, 1-year, and long-term postsurgery time course.


METHODS
Ten-year retrospective study covering 1998 to 2008.


METHODS
Pediatric tertiary care centers.


METHODS
A total of 33 patients (35 ears) underwent stapes surgery from October 1998 to October 2008.


METHODS
Sex, age, preoperative and postoperative audiometric test results, associated anomalies, type of surgery (stapedotomy or partial stapedectomy), method of stapes surgery, and complications.


RESULTS
The median age of patients at surgery was 13.4 years, ranging from 3.3 to 15.9 years. The major cause, which was found in 25 of 35 ears (71%), was nonprogressive conductive hearing loss due to congenital stapes fixation. The second most common cause, which was found in 6 of 35 ears (17%), was otosclerosis with progressive conductive or mixed hearing loss. Three ears presented posttraumatic stapes luxation (1 child aged 3.3 years at surgery). In 1 ear, the cause was osteogenesis imperfecta. Twenty-two ears were treated via the drill or laser-assisted small fenestra technique, and 13 ears were treated by a partial removal of the footplate covered by fascia. Early functional results were good, with a median postoperative air-bone gap of 9.8 dB, and 94% of the results were considered good or very good. There was no significant difference between early, 1-year, and longer-term audiometric results.


CONCLUSIONS
Congenital fixation is the major indication for stapedectomy in children younger than 16 years. Functional results are good and remain stable over time.
Service d'ORL Pédiatrique, Hôpital d'Enfants Armand-Trousseau, 26 av du Dr Arnold Netter, 75012 Paris, France. f.denoyelle@trs.aphp.fr
Francoise
F
Denoyelle
Mary
M
Daval
Nicolas
N
Leboulanger
Alexandra
A
Rousseau
Gilles
G
Roger
Natalie
N
Loundon
Isabelle
I
Rouillon
Erea-Noel
EN
Garabedian
D000293:Adolescent; D001299:Audiometry; D001844:Bone Conduction; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006314:Hearing Loss, Conductive / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D046089:Hearing Loss, Mixed Conductive-Sensorineural / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010013:Osteogenesis Imperfecta / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D010040:Otosclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013199:Stapes / Q000002:abnormalities*; D013201:Stapes Surgery; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000293:injuries