Stapedotomy using skeeter drill and self-retaining ear canal retractor: a single surgeon's 1000-plus surgical procedure experience

Abstract

Objective This study aimed to evaluate the long-term hearing outcomes in stapedotomy surgery using skeeter oto-drill and to assess safety in difficult situations. Method A retrospective study was conducted with 944 patients who underwent 1007 stapedotomy procedures over 16 years, performed by a single surgeon using a trans-canal approach and a self-retaining ear canal retractor. Hearing thresholds were calculated over four frequencies. Air–bone conduction hearing thresholds were obtained at 1, 5 and 10 years post-operatively and compared to the pre-operative records. Results Out of 1007 operated ears with one year follow up, 98.61 per cent of cases showed a negligible air–bone gap of equal to or less than 5 dB, 1.19 per cent of cases showed an air–bone gap equal to or more than 5 dB but less than 10 dB, and only 0.2 per cent of cases showed an air–bone gap of more than 10 dB. Conclusion In this study, using skeeter drill with a 0.6 mm diamond burr to make the fenestra was constant in all the cases and one of the safest techniques, showing persistent long-term hearing results.