The effect of preoperative bone conduction threshold levels on the results of stapes surgery.

The effect of preoperative bone conduction (BC) threshold levels on the results of stapedectomy was evaluated in 378 adult patients with otosclerosis. The mean follow-up period was 8.8 years. Both short-term and long-term postoperative hearing levels were found to be significantly dependent on preoperative BC levels. Only 2 of 31 patients (7%) with preoperative BC thresholds > 40 dB had postoperative hearing levels of 30 dB or better. However, hearing still improved by > or = 21 dB as often in patients with elevated preoperative BC thresholds as in patients with normal BC thresholds. These findings support the use of stapes surgery being worthwhile even in patients with highly elevated BC thresholds.