This audit report details early post-operative complications following surg
ery for chronic otitis media. One hundred and forty-five cases were assesse
d. There were no facial nerve palsies, a bone conduction threshold elevatio
n occurred in 4.6 per cent of cases. A wound infection occurred in six per
cent of cases as did BIPP allergy. Twenty-six per cent of patients reported
symptoms consistent with chorda tympani trauma. Short-lived symptoms of ja
w discomfort were reported by 45 per cent of patients and imbalance or vert
igo by 10 per cent of patients. The findings are compared with other publis
hed reports of complications following ear surgery.