Endoscope-Assisted Stapedotomy with Microdrill: Comparison with a Conventional Technique

Abstract

Objective: To compare endoscope-assisted microdrill stapedotomy with the conventional technique.

Material and method: A retrospective comparative study of 37 otosclerosis stapes fixation surgeries performed with the conventional technique or the endoscope-assisted microdrill stapedotomy were evaluated. Audiometric data and intraoperative and postoperative complications were recorded.

Results: The mean operating time was 128 min in the endoscopic group and 132 min in the conventional group, (p = 0.72). Residual air-bone gaps of ≤10 decibels were obtained in 83.3% and 47.4% of the patients in the endoscopic group and the conventional group, respectively, (p = 0.04). No footplate fractures and incidences of postoperative vertigo and chorda tympani nerve injuries were found in the endoscopic group. Postoperative vertigo was found in 31.6% of the conventional group, and 26.3% of the patients in the conventional group had undergone an endaural surgical approach owing to inadequate exposure under the microscope.

Conclusion: An endoscope-assisted microdrill stapedotomy was associated with significantly better hearing results, a lower postoperative vertigo rate, and fewer footplate fractures and chorda tympani nerve injuries than the conventional technique.