Introduction: The gold-standard treatment of otosclerosis is stapedectomy. Recent surgical advancements have led to the use of two approaches for stapedectomy: CO2 laser and microdrill-assisted stapedotomy. There is limited data on the comparison of both interventions. This study aims to provide an update on evidence-based medicine on the use of CO2 laser and microdrill in stapedotomy.
Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) Guidelines and an electronic search was conducted to identify studies comparing CO2 laser versus microdrill for stapedectomy. Post-operative hearing outcomes and the rates of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) were identified as primary outcomes. Secondary outcomes included post-operative complications such as vertigo and abnormal taste sensation. The analysis was based on fixed or random-effects modelling.
Results: Four studies enrolling 1,540 patients were identified. Post-operative hearing outcomes (odds ratio [OR] = 1.23, p = 0.1), SNHL (OR = 0.8, p = 0.74), and abnormal taste sensation post-operatively (OR = 0.84, p = 0.58) were not significantly different between both interventions. However, a significant difference was found between both groups for post-operative vertigo, showing a higher rate for the microdrill group (OR = 2.54, p = 0.02).
Conclusion: In conclusion, CO2 laser and microdrill are both effective procedures for stapedectomy, as they both produced comparable outcomes in post-operative hearing outcomes and SNHL. However, microdrill had higher rates of post-operative vertigo, possibly indicating that the CO2 laser is a slightly more preferable option.
Keywords: Deafness; Ear surgery; Otological surgery; Otosclerosis.
© 2025 The Author(s). Published by S. Karger AG, Basel.