Objectives To analyse whether the hearing gain following stapes surgery is maintained long-term. Methods Databases (PubMed, EMBASE and MEDLINE) were searched systematically, with no limits on the year or language of publications, for observational studies on the long-term hearing results of stapedectomy (>10 years). References identified from pertinent reviews and articles were also retrieved. 2 reviewers independently searched the databases and selected the studies using pre-specified standardized criteria. These criteria included appropriate adjustments for confounding factors in the analyses. The terms used in the search included stapes surgery, stapedectomy, stapedotomy, long-term results, hearing gain. Data extraction and study quality evaluation were performed independently and results were pooled quantitatively. Results Early studies noted that both air conduction (AC) and bone conduction (BC) deteriorated with time, resulting in a return to baseline pre-operative hearing in the long-term. More recent studies showed that in the long term, the hearing gain was maintained by 75% of patients despite the advent of presbycusis. Surgeons' experience may play a more important role than the type of stapes surgery. On average, studies have shown that the air bone gap tended to increase at a rate of 0.9 dB per year. Conclusions Though some earlier studies were equivocal, recent studies indicate that most stapes surgery patients maintain good hearing long-term, even though there is a gradual decline in the air conduction and bone conduction thresholds. Longitudinal studies are required to better understand this subject.
Hearing results in stapes surgery
