Long-term results after stapedectomy.

296 cases of stapedectomy accomplished by vein grafting plus polyethylene tubing with a primary (one-year) result of a greater than 10 dB improvement in Air Conduction (AC) threshold in speech frequencies have been tested with pure tone audiometry 1-12 years postoperatively. The AC threshold of the operated ear increased by about 1 dB per year for both low and high frequencies. In the high frequency range this increment can be ascribed to normal aging; in the low range the reason is probably progressive conductive loss. There is no evidence to support the assumption that the operation impairs the sensorineural function of the operated ear. The AC threshold of the unoperated ear also increased--by more than that of the operated ear, for both low and high frequencies. In the low range this was ascribed to progressive stapes fixation; in the high range to stapes fixation plus normal aging. The progression for the non-operated ear is relatively slow, about 2 dB per year.