Abstract
We examined the relationship between hearing outcomes after ossiculoplasty type III and the following factors ; 1) stapes mobility, 2) changed in the stapes surroundings, 3) changes in the malleus or incus, 4) the middle ear risk index (MERI), 5) frequency of surgeries and 6) the type of operation. A regression analysis showed the presence of changes in the stapes surroundings and the MERI to correlate with the hearing outcomes. On the other hand, there was no significant correlation between the intraoperative evaluation of stapes mobility and the success rate, thus suggesting that there is a limit to the subjective judgment of stapes mobility. It is therefore necessary to develop a method for evaluating the mobility of the stapes objectively.
