Early Hearing Assessment After "One Shot" CO2 Laser Stapedotomy: Is It Helpful to Predict Inner Ear Damage and the Functional Outcome?

OBJECTIVE:: Auditory testing is not routinely performed within 4 to 6 weeks after stapedotomy because hearing acuity is thought to be transiently depressed. The early postoperative effects of the 1-shot carbon dioxide (CO2) laser have never been reported. The purpose of this study is to present data for auditory thresholds measured within 2 days of laser stapedotomy and at the last follow-up. STUDY DESIGN:: The study was prospective and unblinded. SETTING:: The study was conducted at the "A. Gemelli" University Hospital. METHODS:: From January to December 2008, 58 subjects underwent "1-shot" CO2 laser stapedotomies for otosclerosis. Pure-tonal audiometric test was performed preoperatively 2 days after surgery and at least 1 month after surgery during the follow-up. RESULTS:: The closure of air-bone gap began in the early postoperative period and continued to improve through the late postoperative period. Bone-conduction hearing thresholds were stable even in the early postoperative follow-up and remained stable trough all the course of the study. CONCLUSION:: Our data, supported by the literature, suggest that 1-shot CO2 laser stapedotomy is an effective and safe procedure for the treatment of otosclerosis.