Abstract
Introduction Otosclerosis is characterized by the fixation of the stapes to the oval window, thereby
impairing acoustic signal absorbance. A commonly used surgical technique for improving
hearing in cases of otosclerosis is stapedotomy. However, it is unclear whether this
surgery restores all the physical characteristics of the tympano-ossicular system.
Objective To evaluate the tympano-ossicular system in individuals with fenestral otosclerosis
pre and poststapedotomy using wideband tympanometry.
Method A total of 47 individuals and 71 ears were assessed. The subjects were divided into
three groups: presurgery otosclerosis; postsurgery; and a control group of normal-hearing
adults. A handheld tympanometer with a wideband module (226–8,000 Hz) was used to
take measurements at ambient pressure and under pressurized conditions. The level
of statistical significance adopted was p ≤ 0.05.
Results Acoustic absorbance at 226 Hz was low for all groups. At frequencies in the range
630 to 5,040 Hz, each group had a characteristic absorbance curve, allowing them to
be distinguished from one another. In the presurgery group, absorbance values were
below normal levels, with energy absorbance below 10%. Low energy absorbance was most
evident at 1,000 Hz in the presurgery group, but this was not observed in the postsurgery
group. Although there was an improvement in hearing, the surgery failed to restore
the tympano-ossicular system to normal.
Conclusion Wideband acoustic absorbance proved able to differentiate normal ears and otosclerotic
ears pre and postsurgery, under both ambient pressure and pressurized conditions.
Keywords
middle ear - acoustic impedance tests - otosclerosis
