Tympanoplasty: Is exposure adequate for Otorhinolaryngology Residents in Nigeria?

Abstract

Aims and Objectives: This study is aimed at identifying the extent of exposure of residents to tympanoplasty procedure during their training in Otorhinolaryngology (ORL) and proffer ways of improving such exposure. Patients and Methods: Questionnaire assessing the exposure to tympanoplasty procedures was administered to ORL residents who were randomly selected from six teaching hospitals in Nigeria. Results: Twenty five residents from six teaching hospitals answered the questionnaire. The residents had varied duration of training from 11 months to 6years. Forty eight per cent (12 out of 25) of the residents had exposure to tympanoplasty, while only twenty per cent (5) had assisted at tympanoplasty procedure, and none had ever performed the procedure. The causes of poor practical exposure to tympanoplasty were identified as absence of necessary equipment and lack of expertise in the training centres. Ninety-two (23) per cent rated the low exposure to tympanoplasty procedure as moderate to gross omission in the ORL fellowship training. Eighty seven per cent of the respondents advocated provision of equipment and posting to centres with facilities as a way of solving this problem. All the residents indicated willingness to train in tympanoplasty procedures in Nigeria or overseas. Conclusion: ORL residents are poorly exposed to tympanoplasty procedures in Nigeria. The need to train residents in this procedure in centres with facilities for better ORL services is hereby stressed.

Keywords

• tympanoplasty
• training
• orl residents
• nigeria
• exposure