title: Prediction of the bone conduction gain curve after partial posterior stapedectomy: the frequency shift concept.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In this article, we present a method able to reasonably predict the bone conduction (BC) gain curve. It provides the advantage of advising patients who will receive little benefit from surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  A group of 284 cases is studied in an attempt to verify the poststapedectomy predictability of their characteristic gain curve (CGC) to define a pattern, which indicates the outcome of surgery. For that purpose, the postoperative BC curve has been modeled by fitting a linear regression curve (LRC), which I refer to here as "baseline," into the average audiogram of the 284 cases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Using the average baseline as the predicted postoperative BC audiogram, in 77% of the cases, the predicted CGC is qualitatively comparable to the measured one.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The postoperative baseline can be modeled as a shifting of the average frequency of the preoperative baseline toward higher frequencies. This method is useful to predict the probabilities of having a negative slope in the gain curve after stapes surgery and, therefore, will help in the decision-making process for the indication of surgery and to advise patients on the results they can expect to have. A description of the steps to follow for the application of this method is made available.
authors.affiliation: Instituto ORL Antolí-Candela, Madrid, Spain. clinica@antolicandela.com
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Antolí-Candela
authors.forename: Elisa Gil-Carcedo
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Sañudo
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gómez Molinero
mesh_terms: D001299:Audiometry / Q000379:methods; D001844:Bone Conduction / Q000502:physiology*; D006309:Hearing; D006801:Humans; D010040:Otosclerosis / Q000601:surgery*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D013201:Stapes Surgery / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome