Tympanosclerosis of the stapes: hearing results for various surgical treatments.

When tympanosclerosis involves the tympanic membrane or the lateral ossicles, treatment is usually straightforward and uncomplicated. When the stapes is involved, therapy is more controversial and may be more difficult. We report our results in 154 patients who underwent different surgical procedures for tympanosclerosis of the stapes. Followup was up to 10 years. Pure-tone average threshold was significantly improved (p < 0.05) in patients who underwent mobilization procedures or stapedectomy for definitive treatment. The air-bone gap was less than 20 dB at 6 months postoperative in 72% of patients and less than 30 dB in 90%. At 6 months, 2 years, and 5 years there were no statistically significant differences in hearing results between stapedectomy and mobilization patients, some of whom were followed for up to 10 years. No patient had a profound hearing loss after surgery. Surgical treatment for tympanosclerosis of the stapes is a safe procedure, with hearing results similar to those of surgery for other chronic ear diseases involving the ossicular chain.