Preliminary results of applying the inverse stapedotomy

The authors have analyzed a group of 90 patients (105 operations) that have underwent stapes surgery over three years period. First group of 40 patients (45 operations) have been operated on by a classic stapedotomy from 2006 to 2007 and the second group of 50 patients (60 operations) by inverse stapedotomy in 2007. Manual perforator has been used in all of the patients. In a group of patients operated by inverse technique not a single case of floating basal plate has occurred during surgery. Rate of postoperative complaints regarding nausea and balance disorders was considerably lower when reversal of the steps has been used. Closure of air bone gap better than 20dB in about 80% patients in both series, with slight advantage of the inverse technique, but no statistically significant difference was proven. Inverse stapedotomy is efficient procedure as compared to classic stapedotomy with less intraoperative complications and postoperative complaints. Postoperative audiograms have shown similar improvement of hearing thresholds in both groups.