A survey of otologic training in US residency programs.

Otologic cases are dwindling in numbers, jeopardizing the clinical training of our residents. A survey was performed to determine the magnitude of the problem facing our training programs. Seventy-three of 79 questionnaires distributed were returned. Results of the survey indicate that facial nerve decompression, exostosis repair, and stapedectomy were, on the average, infrequently performed by residents. Training for these seldom-performed procedures consists of temporal bone laboratory experience, close operative supervision, and the use of private patients for resident training. The majority (84%) of respondents did not feel that fellowship training was required to perform otologic surgery on graduation or that it should be required for obtaining hospital privileges in seldom-performed cases. Approximately three quarters (76%) of the program directors consider the training of seldom-performed procedures to be a moderate-to-serious problem facing otologic training today.