Endoscopic Transcanal Stapes Surgery: Our Audiological and Surgical Results

Endoscopic Transcanal Stapes Surgery: Our Audiological and Surgical Results Adem Bora, Tuğberk Salık Sivas Republic University Health Services Application and Research Hospital, Ear Nose Throat Clinic, Sivas, Turkey ABSTRACT Aim: The aim of this study is to investigate the intraoperative and postoperative results of endoscopic stapes surgery performed at our institution. Methods: A total of 25 patients with 28 ears (14 right, 14 left ears) who underwent endoscopic stapes surgery between 2018 and 2022 were analyzed for postoperative hearing outcomes and surgical complications at the 6-month follow-up. Results: The average age of the patients was 43.16 years (range, 24-63 years), and 64.0% of the patients were female. The median preoperative air-bone gap decreased from 30.36 dB hearing level (HL) to 18.95 dB HL after surgery (P < 0.001). The postoperative air-bone gap was 10 dB or lower in 8 patients (28.6%), 11-20 dB in 10 patients (35.7%), and more than 20 dB in 6 patients (21.4%). Intraoperative complications included only tympanic membrane ruptures in one patient, which resolved during the initial follow-up. Postoperatively, 10.7% of the subjects complained of changes in taste sensation. One patient developed facial paralysis responsive to steroid treatment one week after surgery. Conclusion: Endoscopic surgery is particularly suitable for stapedial disorders. Endoscopic stapes surgery is minimally invasive and suitable for surgical training, as surgical anatomy can be easily understood, and both the surgeon and assistant can observe the procedure from the same monitor. The operation should only be performed by experienced surgeons due to the need for single-handed operation and the lack of stereoscopic vision. Keywords: Stapes; Stapedectomy; Outcomes; Endoscopic ear surgery