Development of the air-bone gap in the long-term course after primary and revision CO2 laser stapedotomy

In our study we have shown that the results after CO2 revision laser tapedotomy (R-LS) are similar to those after primary (P-LS) CO2 laser tapedotomy in terms of air-bone-gap (ABG) reduction.

We used the one-shot technique, which has been routinely used in our clinic for 15 years. Up to now, there are only a few studies on the long-term course of ABG after PLS and R-LS.

We were able to show that in the long-term course of R-LS performed with CO2 laser, comparable hearing improvement could be achieved as in P-LS performed with CO2 laser. Our database analysis included 533 P-LS and 141 R-LS with audiograms up to 12.5 years postoperatively. This allowed us to examine the ABG at different points in time.

The examination one year postoperatively showed a significant reduction of ABG in both groups R-LS: 0-10 dB 48 % , 11-20 dB 46 % , 21-30 dB 6 %  P-LS: 0-10 dB 73 % , 11-20 dB 26 % , >30 dB 1 %  Over time, our studies showed no significant change in ABG in either group. In the comparison of both groups no significant difference was found at one point in time, at all other points in time the difference was significant. The stable postoperative ABG after P-LS and R-LS in the long-term course could thus confirm the results for the already published short-term course of P-LS and R-LS.

We conclude that patients benefit from both P-LS and R-LS over the long term. In particular, R-LS can not only improve symptoms but also lead to a long-term improvement in hearing.

The first author does not indicate a conflict of interest.

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Poster-PDF A-1374.pdf

Publication History

Article published online:
13 May 2021