Subgroup Analysis
In order to reduce potential sources of bias, for subgroup analysis,
patients were divided into those who had reconstructive procedures,
which were stapes surgery, myringoplasty and ossiculoplasty; and those
who had what we classified as non-reconstructive procedures which
included surgery for cholesteatoma and bony meatoplasty. This was
similar to the categories used by Salzman et
al .5 In addition, presence or absence of bone removal
was recorded.