Diode Laser in Otosclerosis Surgery

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the functional results of otosclerosis surgery using diode laser. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort analysis. PATIENTS: One hundred seven patients operated on for otosclerosis with a diode laser (119 ears, all primary cases) and 141 patients operated on with a conventional technique (141 ears, all primary cases). Revision cases using the diode laser were also described. METHODS: Preoperative tomographic computed scan findings and intraoperative observations were collected. Pure-tone and vocal audiometry was performed preoperatively and postoperatively (at 3 mo and 1 yr). RESULTS: In the laser group, the air-bone gap was 29 +/- 0.8 dB (n= 112) preoperatively and 9 +/- 0.6 dB (n = 58) at 1 year. Air conduction was improved by 22 +/- 1.7 dB at 1 year (n = 58). In the conventional group, the air-bone gap was 32 +/- 0.9 dB (n=127) preoperatively and 10 +/- 0.6 dB (n = 127) at 1 year. Air conduction was improved by 25 +/- 1.1 dB (n = 127) at 1 year. No difference of hearing gain was observed between the 2 groups at 1 year. A decreased rate of footplate fracture was observed with the diode laser (3.6%) compared with the conventional technique (21.3%). CONCLUSION: Diode laser is a reliable and safe device for otosclerosis surgery. The functional results were similar to those reported in other series.