Surgery in elderly patients with otosclerosis.

Hearing results and complications of surgery were studied in 42 patients with otosclerosis (46 ears operated on) who were over the age of 60 years at the time of stapedectomy. The mean follow-up period was 8 years. The results were compared with those obtained in 275 patients (330 ears operated on) younger than 60 years of age undergoing stapes surgery during the same time period. Large fenestra stapedectomy with fascia seal to the oval window was used in all cases. Hearing results as judged by postoperative air-bone gaps were as good in the older age group as in the younger patients. In contrast to some earlier reports, complications of surgery such as postoperative sensorineural hearing loss occurred not more frequently among elderly patients than in younger patients. It is concluded that stapes surgery should be offered to elderly patients with the same indications as in younger patients with otosclerosis.