[Otosclerosis: experience at the Hotel-Dieu in France. 71 surgical cases].

Otosclerosis is one of the common causes of hearing loss. The incidence varies between 0.1% and 2%. In Lebanon otosclerosis is a common entity that has not been well evaluated. To the best of our knowledge there is no epidemiologic analysis of the incidence or outcomes of otosclerosis in Lebanon. We collected the number of stapedectomies performed for otosclerosis in different hospitals between Jan. 1994 and Dec. 1995. We also retrospectively reviewed the charts of 71 cases who underwent stapedectomy at Hôtel-Dieu de France-St Joseph University Hospital Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon. Between 1992 and 1996 the incidence of otosclerosis in Lebanon as revealed through stapedectomy is 5/100,000. We report also on the pathology, technique, complications and outcomes of stapedectomy surgery for otosclerosis in Hôtel-Dieu Hospital. Further epidemiologic studies and screening is required to reveal the exact incidence of this common entity that could be underdiagnosed or untreated in our country.