THE EFFECT OF PREOPERATIVE BONE CONDUCTION THRESHOLD LEVELS ON THE RESULTS OF STONES SURGERY

The effect of preoperative bone conduction (BC) threshold levels, on t he results of stapedectomy was evaluated in 378 adult patients with ot osclerosis. The mean follow-up period was 8.8 years. Both short-term a nd long-term postoperative hearing levels were found to be significant ly dependent on preoperative BC levels. Only 2 of 31 patients (7%) wit h preoperative BC thresholds > 40 dB had postoperative hearing levels of 30 dB or betterl However, hearing still improved by greater than or equal to 21 dB as often in patients with elevated preoperative BC thr esholds as in patients with normal BC thresholds. These findings suppo rt the use of stapes surgery being worthwhile even in patients with hi ghly elevated BC thresholds.