Audit of stapedectomy in the north west of England for 1996 and an analysis of the criteria used to describe success.

A questionnaire was used to collect information related to stapedectomy from all the NHS Trusts in the North West region. The data collected included the identity and rank of the surgeon, the age and sex of the patients, the side of the operation, the audiometric values of the air conduction audiogram preoperatively and postoperatively, and an account of any complications. The results were analysed and compared to national and international standards. The criteria for analysis of success in surgery for conductive hearing loss were reviewed.