The records of 120 patients who had undergone revision stapedectomy were analyzed to determine: (i) the causes of failure; (ii) how to prevent failure by taking precautions during primary surgery; (iii) hearing results; and (iv) possible identifying factors which might pinpoint those patients with a high risk of sensorineural deafness.

A review of these cases demonstrates that the results of revision stapedectomy are different from those of primary stapedectomy. The commonest cause of failure was prosthetic dislocation (30.8 per cent), followed by fibrous adhesions (18.3 per cent) and otosclerotic regrowth (14.1 per cent). First revision operations resulted in post-operative bone-air gaps of 15 dB. or less in 46.5 per cent of cases, much better than 25 per cent for second revisions. Primary stapedectomy resulted in successful closure of the air-bone gap to 15 dB. or less in 89.5 per cent of cases.

The sensorineural loss occurred in 11.3 per cent or first revisions and in 16.6 per cent of second revisions, as compared to 1.3 per cent after primary surgery. “Dead ears” were encountered in 2.2 per cent of first revisions, as compared to nil in the primary group.