Diode laser in otosclerosis surgery: first clinical results.

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 otoselerosis surgery. The functional results were similar to those reported in other series.