CURRENT PRACTICE OF STAPEDECTOMY IN GREAT-BRITAIN

Since the introduction of stapedectomy with reconstruction of the ossi cular chain to Great Britain, many modifications in practice have take n place. The changes include patient selection, operative technique an d the type of prosthesis used, as well as the number of operations per formed yearly. The aim of this study is to attempt to establish the ac tual practice among British otolaryngology consultants by means of a s imple questionnaire. Two hundred (50.3%) forms were analysed anonymous ly. The study confirms the decrease in the number of operations perfor med annually, the absence of centralization for this type of surgery i n Great Britain and also demonstrated the trends towards stapedotomy a nd the practice of bilateral surgery amongst younger consultants.