title: Audiometric Results after Stapedotomy Operations in Patients with Otosclerosis and Preoperative Small Air-Bone Gaps.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The efficacy of stapedotomies performed on patients with small air-bone gaps (<25 dB) was compared with the efficacy of the operation in patients who had otosclerosis with high air-bone gaps (≥25 dB).
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective study evaluates the short-term postoperative air and bone conduction thresholds and air-bone gaps after 182 CO2 laser stapedotomies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significantly smaller air-bone gap and lower air conduction thresholds after surgery were observed in the group of patients who underwent surgery with preoperative air-bone gaps of less than 25 dB. Bone conduction thresholds improve in the group with small air-bone gaps after surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results after stapedotomies are good even if the preoperative air-bone gap is small and the overall risk of hearing deterioration due to stapes surgery remains low.
authors: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Lix00E8;ge, Lix00E8;ge, Belgium.
authors: Caroline
authors: C
authors: Salmon
authors: Sébastien
authors: S
authors: Barriat
authors: Laurent
authors: L
authors: Demanez
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Magis
authors: Philippe
authors: P
authors: Lefebvre
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001309:Auditory Threshold / Q000502:physiology*; D001844:Bone Conduction / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006309:Hearing / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010040:Otosclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013201:Stapes Surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome