Postoperative quality of life and patient satisfaction following stapes surgery: a cross-sectional study

<p><strong>Background:</strong> Otosclerosis is a progressive disorder characterized by abnormal bone remodeling around the oval window, resulting in stapes fixation and conductive hearing loss. Clinical manifestations vary and may include bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo. This study aimed to evaluate quality of life and patient satisfaction following stapes surgery, and to explore potential associations between operative characteristics and postoperative outcomes.</p> <p><strong>Methods:</strong> A cross-sectional study was conducted at a high-volume tertiary center in Saudi Arabia. Data collected included demographic characteristics, clinical presentation, operative details, and preoperative and postoperative audiological outcomes assessed at 6 months to 1 year follow-up using pure tone audiometry. Postoperative quality of life and hearing-related handicap were evaluated using the Glasgow Benefit Inventory (GBI) and Hearing Handicap Inventory for Adults (HHIA) questionnaires.</p> <p><strong>Results:</strong> A total of 65 patients were included, of whom 61.5% were female, with a mean age of 40.9 &plusmn; 9.4 years. Significant postoperative audiological improvement was observed, with mean air-conduction thresholds improving from 54.6 &plusmn; 13.9 dB preoperatively to 39.8 &plusmn; 16.5 dB postoperatively (p &lt; 0.001), while the mean air&ndash;bone gap decreased from 33.0 &plusmn; 10.8 dB to 18.3 &plusmn; 12.3 dB (p &lt; 0.001).The mean GBI score was 34.4 &plusmn; 31.4, indicating improved postoperative quality of life; however, 60.0% of participants still demonstrated significant hearing-related handicap on HHIA.</p> <p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Stapes surgery was associated with significant postoperative hearing and quality of life improvement, consistent with favorable audiometric outcomes. No significant associations were found between postoperative outcomes and most operative characteristics.</p>