Surgical Treatment of Otosclerosis: Eight years’ Experience at the Jordan University Hospital

INTRODUCTION: To report the experience of the Jordan University Hospital with respect to the surgical treatment of otosclerosis and to compare results and complications with published studies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The medical records of all patients who underwent stapes surgery for otosclerosis at the Jordan University Hospital during the period January 2003 to December 2010 were reviewed. RESULTS: Out of 130 patients who underwent stapes surgery, 104 (80%) fulfilled the criteria and were enrolled in this study. There were 68 (65.4%) females and 36 (34.6%) males (female-to-male ratio, 1.9: 1). The disease was bilateral in 86 (82.7%) patients. Family history for otosclerosis was positive in 37(35.6%) patients. Tinnitus was observed at presentation in 82 (78.8%) patients and spontaneously resolved or improved in 51(62.2%) patients after surgery. Air bone gap after surgery was ≤ 10 dB in 79 (76.0%) patients, between 10 and 20 dB in 10 (9.6%) patients, and between 20 and 30 dB in four (3.8%) patients. Complications occurred in 17(16.3%) patients, which included: one (1.0%) deaf ear, two (2.0%) sensorineural hearing loss, two (2.0%) facial nerve palsy, six (5.8%) vertigo lasting more than 7 days, three (2.9%) chorda tympani damage, one (1.0%) floating of footplate, and two (2.0%) perforation of the tympanic membrane. CONCLUSION: The results of this study are comparable with those reported in the literature by surgeons with the same level of experience, but below than those with large series experience. Therefore, we believe that an experienced general ear, nose, and throat (ENT) surgeon can perform stapes surgery safely and successfully in the absence of an otologist.