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John Hamilton is an ENT surgeon. . Due to his research, surgical outcomes, and large experience, he is internationally recognised as an expert ear surgeon.

. His special interests remain with cholesteatoma, otosclerosis, and other ear disease. He is the most experienced cholesteatoma surgeon in the UK, having performed nearly 2000 cholesteatoma operations, 600 of them in children. John performed research and runs courses that have led to the popularising of lasers for the treatment of cholesteatoma. He developed the surgical technique of laser removal of cholesteatoma from hearing bones in cholesteatoma surgery.

John has performed 500 stapedotomies (operations for otosclerosis). He has researched the variations that surgeons encounter during this operation to fine-tune his stapedotomy technique and outcomes. His research into the long term results of stapes surgery is unparalleled anywhere in the world and enables him to provide realistic advice for patients prior to surgery.

John has been performing research on the eustachian tube and middle ear for many years. He still works with the University of Cambridge and St George's Hospital on these topics. He is best known for his research into the benefits of laser surgery for clearing cholesteatoma and preserving the hearing bones. This work is responsible for the widespread adoption of laser techniques in cholesteatoma surgery.

He has meticulous records of his surgical outcomes and these have allowed him to constantly improve his treatment for patients throughout his career. He has identified a previously unknown phenomenon of improvement of middle ear ventilation in the second decade, which has saved many children with retracted eardrums from unnecessary surgery. He has been the first to quantify outcomes such as the spontaneous healing of eardrum perforations and long term deterioration of hearing results after surgery. His research has been commended by other leading ear specialists in journal editorials and for consideration for prizes at International meetings.