Endoscopic stapedotomy: classic versus reversal technique

OBJECTIVES: To compare hearing outcome and surgical complications between endoscopic classic and reversal stapedotomies. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective single blinded randomized clinical study carried out on 60 patients with otosclerosis who were randomized into two groups; each containing 30 patients. Patients in group 1 underwent endoscopic classic stapedotomy. Patients in group 2 underwent endoscopic reversal stapedotomy. Both groups were compared as regards hearing outcome and surgical complications. RESULTS: The difference in the hearing outcome between the two groups was statistically non-significant. Post-operative closure of the air bone gap (ABG) within 10 dB was attained in 76.67% and 80% of patients in groups 1 and 2, respectively. The differences in the surgical complications between the two studied groups were statistically non-significant. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic classic and reversal stapedotomies are comparable to each other as regards hearing outcome and surgical complications. The authors recommend further studies with relatively larger sample size.