Audit of stapedectomy results in a district general hospital

We report a series of 100 stapes operations performed for otosclerosis. The problems in reporting the results of stapedectomies are discussed. The audit showed a difference in the measured results between two consultants. As a result, the consultant with the worse outcome chose to stop operating on patients with otosclerosis. The advantages and disadvantages of a single surgeon performing all the cases are discussed. We advocate a central registry of all surgeons performing stapes surgery to allow periodic national comparative audits.