Stapedectomy in the pediatric patient.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the results of stapedectomy in pediatric patients with otosclerosis and tympanosclerosis. A retrospective review of 14 patients (15 ears) who underwent stapedectomy from 1993 to 1995 was conducted. In 5 ears stapedectomy for tympanosclerosis was performed; 9 patients had otosclerosis and 1 had Treacher Collins syndrome. Patients were evaluated for preoperative and postoperative air-bone gaps, preoperative and postoperative speech reception thresholds, postoperative air conduction hearing improvement, and preoperative and postoperative speech discrimination. Children with otosclerosis who underwent stapedectomies had an average postoperative air-bone gap of 16 dB with an average air conduction hearing improvement of 17.6 dB. Children with tympanosclerosis who underwent stapedectomies had an average air-bone gap of 14 dB with an average air conduction hearing improvement of 28 dB. Stapedectomy is a safe and effective treatment for otosclerosis and tympanosclerosis in pediatric patients.