Objectives: The efficacy of stapedotomies performed on patients with small air-bone gaps (<25 dB) was compared with the efficacy of the operation in patients who had otosclerosis with high air-bone gaps (≥25 dB). Methods: This retrospective study evaluates the short-term postoperative air and bone conduction thresholds and air-bone gaps after 182 CO2 laser stapedotomies. Results: A significantly smaller air-bone gap and lower air conduction thresholds after surgery were observed in the group of patients who underwent surgery with preoperative air-bone gaps of less than 25 dB. Bone conduction thresholds improve in the group with small air-bone gaps after surgery. Conclusions: The results after stapedotomies are good even if the preoperative air-bone gap is small and the overall risk of hearing deterioration due to stapes surgery remains low.

Keywords:
Otosclerosis, Laser-assisted stapedotomy, Small air-bone gap
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2015
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