Myringoplasty outcomes in the UK

Objectives: To determine the outcome of myringoplasty as undertaken by ENT surgeons in the UK, and to assess the current systems available for providing national outcome data.
Methods: A prospective national multicentre audit was conducted involving multiple hospitals throughout the UK. Participants consisted of ENT surgeons practising in the UK.
Results: Data were prospectively collected over a three-year period between 1 March 2006 and 1 March 2009 using the web-based Common Otology Database. In total, 33 surgeons provided valid and complete data for 495 procedures. The overall closure rate for myringoplasty was 89.5 per cent. The average hearing gain for successful primary myringoplasties was 9.14 dB (standard deviation = 10.62). The Common Otology Database provided an effective platform for capturing outcome data.
Conclusion: Myringoplasty is a safe and effective procedure in the UK. With the introduction of revalidation by the General Medical Council, participation in national audits will be mandatory in the future. This study demonstrates that a web-based audit tool would be suitable for performing such audits.