Tinnitus Severity Change Following Stapedotomy in Patients With Otosclerosis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether stapedotomy was effective in reducing tinnitus severity. In addition, the relationship between reduction in tinnitus and improvement in hearing after stapedotomy was analyzed.

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective clinical study.

SETTING: Tertiary referral center.

PATIENTS: A group of 168 otosclerosis patients diagnosed with chronic tinnitus.

INTERVENTION: Stapedotomy.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The Tinnitus Functional Index questionnaire (TFI) was used to assess tinnitus severity before surgery, and at 3 and 6 months postoperatively. Pure-tone audiometry was conducted before surgery and 6 months postoperatively.

RESULTS: The TFI Total score before the operation was M = 34.5 (standard deviation [SD] = 1.6) points, and decreased 3 months after stapedotomy to M = 17.5 (SD = 1.7), a statistically significant change (T = -8.200; p < 0.001). A weak correlation was found between the pre- and postoperative difference of TFI Total score and air-conduction thresholds (r = 0.21; p = 0.013) as well as between the TFI Total score and the size of the air-bone gap (r = 0.21; p = 0.013). Preoperatively, 86 patients tinnitus was a not or small problem, and for 82 it was moderate to very big. After stapedotomy, 93 (55%) of patients experienced a significant reduction in tinnitus severity. Of the whole group, 62 patients (37%) reported complete disappearance of their tinnitus. No change in tinnitus severity was reported by 63 patients (38%), and an increase was observed by 12 patients (7%).

CONCLUSION: Stapedotomy not only improves hearing but also reduces tinnitus severity. The current results extend knowledge of postoperative results in terms of tinnitus severity, and might benefit patients undergoing tinnitus counseling. It might also be useful to otolaryngologists when making decisions regarding qualification criteria.