Simultaneous Bilateral Stapes Surgery After Follow-Up Of 13 Years

Background Eighteen patients underwent simultaneous bilateral stapes surgery in 2003-2006. Objectives We evaluated the long-term outcomes in this patient group, and assessed their hearing in noise and binaural hearing. Material and Methods Fifteen patients returned questionnaires concerning their hearing, taste function, and balance. Thirteen patients underwent pure-tone and speech audiogram, Finnish matrix sentence test, video head impulse test, and clinical examination on average 13 years after surgery. Results We found no significant difference in air- and bone conduction pure-tone average, speech audiometry, and the air-bone gap between the 1-year and the late postoperative visits. One patient had bilaterally a partial loss of the vestibulo-ocular reflex of unknown cause. Conclusions and Significance The hearing results 13 years after simultaneous bilateral stapes surgery remained good without any significant delayed complications. Simultaneous bilateral stapes surgery is a viable treatment option in selected patients with otosclerosis.