Comparison of a skeeter drill and a KTP laser for cutting the stapes crura during stapedotomy

Abstract

Objective: To compare the usefulness and safety of a skeeter drill with those of a KTP laser in stapedotomy.
Materials and Methods: Primary stapedotomy was performed in 24 ears between April 2004 and December 2009 at the Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital. A skeeter drill was used to cut the stapes crura in 12 ears and a KTP laser was used in the other 12 ears, while all stapes footplates were fenestrated with a skeeter drill. We compared the skeeter drill technique and the KTP laser technique on the basis of the following 3 points; (1) immediate symptoms indicating inner ear dysfunction such as vertigo and tinnitus, (2) postoperative changes in bone-conduction hearing, and (3) air-conduction hearing at 1 year after surgery.
Results: No statistically significant differences in the 3 points were observed for the 2 techniques.
Conclusion: A skeeter drill, just like a KTP laser, may be safely used to cut the stapes crura during stapedotomy.