Stapedectomy for the home temporal bone dissection laboratory.

During the last 15 years, there has been a steady decline in the number of stapedectomies performed. Suggestions have been made to limit the residents' training in stapes surgery as well as to determine who is qualified to perform stapedectomies. It is well recognized that the skills and precision required for a stapedectomy are different from those used in chronic ear surgery and, if these precise techniques are not used on a regular basis, one will lose the dexterity required for this operation. A technique has been developed that enables the resident or infrequent operator to improve his skills with stapedectomy in the laboratory, prior to being confronted with a patient. It should help to improve the residents' surgical experience as well as maintain the surgical skills required for this operation.