The past two decades have produced a number of major advances in the concept and techniques of otosclerosis surgery. The almost universal acceptance and successful application of the single-stage lateral canal fenestration and stapes mobilization procedures have been far too well described elsewhere to require further comment here. The stapedectomy technique of Shea,1 however, is of more recent origin. Because of the high degree of effectiveness of this technique, it seems appropriate for us to report on our experiences with it and to also present an analysis of follow-up audiometric data.
Our awareness of the need for the development of additional microsurgical techniques for the relief of otosclerotic deafness dates back several years to observations made during a series of revisions of previously done stapes mobilizations. We found that many of these earlier patients had failed to gain in auditory sensitivity postoperatively because of various surgical complications which involved