الفهرس 
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Abstract
A new era in the treatment of otosclerosis was opened in 1958 when the stapedectomy procedure was introduced by John Shea. Since then, variations from the original technique has occurred in three major ways; the design of the prosthesis, the small fenestra technique, and the use of laser technology. >« In the present study, we performed laser stapedectomy using the guinea pigs as our model. We used two modes of CO2 laser, normal pulse (with power settings of 2, 3, and 4 watts ) and superpulse (with power settings of 2 and 5 watts). We studied the histopathological effects of laser energy at and around the site of laser application. We also studied the healing process after laser irradiation weekly for 5 weeks. The most striking findings in our experimental study were; limited thermal damage, normal healing of the bone, strong foreign body reaction to the gelfoam and lastly the absence of any tissue reaction to char. In our clinical study, we reviewed all cases of stapedectomy that has been performed in the Medical College of Wisconsin in the period between 1986-1994. There were 103 cases of which 73 were primary cases and thirty were revisions. i Analysis of results showed that the hearing results of laser stapedectomy (both primary and revision) were better those of than conventional stapedectomy. This was a statistically significant. It has to be noted that the non laser cases were the earliest cases in the series and in the ? surgeon experience. The increased experience of the surgeon may also play a.