Otosclerosis in the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s

• Published in: The Laryngoscope Vol. 109; no. 8; pp. 1307 - 1309
• Main Authors: Lippy, William H., Berenholz, Leonard P., Burkey, John M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken, NJ John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01-08-1999; Wiley-Blackwell
• Subjects: Audiometry, Pure-Tone - methods; Biological and medical sciences; Bone Conduction - physiology; Ear, auditive nerve, cochleovestibular tract, facial nerve: diseases, semeiology; Female; Head and neck surgery. Maxillofacial surgery. Dental surgery. Orthodontics; Hearing Loss, Conductive - diagnosis; Hearing Loss, Conductive - etiology; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Non tumoral diseases; Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Otosclerosis - complications; Otosclerosis - surgery; Postoperative Care; Preoperative Care; Retrospective Studies; Stapes Surgery - methods; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surgery of the ear, the auditive nerve and the facial nerve; Time Factors; Human; Internal ear disease; Clinical form; Case history; Retrospective; Genetic disease; Symptomatology; Stapedectomy; Treatment; Surgery; ENT disease; Diagnosis; Bibliographic review; Otosclerosis
• ISSN: 0023-852X; 1531-4995
• DOI: 10.1097/00005537-199908000-00022

Educational Objective: The focus of this paper is on the changing patterns of presentation of otosclerosis over the past 37 years.
Study Design: Retrospective chart review.
Setting: Private otology practice.
Patients: Randomized selection of 400 patients (100 per decade) from 15,372 who underwent stapedectomy over the past four decades.
Outcome Measures: Extent of cochlear involvement, bilaterality of disease, length of history, degree of hearing loss, and pathological findings are noted.
Results: The decreasing incidence of footplates necessitating drillouts is discussed. Changing audiometric patterns at presentation such as decreased pure‐tone average hearing thresholds and smaller air‐bone gaps are also reviewed.
Conclusion: This review demonstrates the changing patterns of presentation of otosclerosis over the past 37 years and will help guide the stapes surgeon into the year 2000.