Eardrum repair
Multimedia
Definition
Eardrum repair refers to one or more surgical procedures that are done to correct a tear or other damage to the eardrum (tympanic membrane).
Ossiculoplasty is the repair of the small bones in the middle ear.
Alternative Names
Myringoplasty; Tympanoplasty; Ossiculoplasty; Ossicular reconstruction; Tympanosclerosis - surgery; Ossicular discontinuity - surgery; Ossicular fixation - surgery
Description
Most patients (and all children) receive general anesthesia. This means they are asleep and pain-free.
The surgeon will make a cut behind the ear or inside the ear canal.
Depending on what needs to be done, the surgeon will:
Clean out any infection or dead tissue on the eardrum or in the middle ear.
Patch the eardrum with a piece of the patient's own tissue taken from a vein or muscle sheath (called tympanoplasty). This procedure will usually take 2 - 3 hours.
Remove, replace, or repair one or more of the three little bones in the middle ear (called ossuculoplasty)
Repair smaller holes in the eardrum by placing either gel or a special paper over the eardrum (called myringoplasty). This procedure will usually take 10 - 30 minutes.
The surgeon will use an operating microscope to view and repair the eardrum or the small bones.
Why the Procedure Is Performed
The eardrum (tympanic membrane) is between the outer ear and the middle ear. The eardrum vibrates when sound waves strike it. When the eardrum is damaged or has a hole in it, hearing may be reduced and ear infections may be more likely.
Causes of holes or openings in the eardrum include:
If the eardrum has a fairly small hole, myringoplasty may work to close it. Most of the time, your doctor will wait at least 6 weeks after the eardrum developed a hole before suggesting surgery.
Tympanoplasty may be done if:
The eardrum has a larger hole or opening
There is a chronic infection in the ear, and antibiotics do not help
There is a build-up of extra tissue around or behind the eardrum
These same problems can also harm the very small bones (ossicles) that are right behind the eardrum. If this happens, your surgeon may perform an ossiculoplasty.
References
Fayad JN, Sheehy JL. Outer surface grafting technique. In: Brackmann D, Shelton C, Arriaga MA, eds. Otologic Surgery. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier;2009:chap 9.
Adams ME, El-Kashlan HK. Tympanoplasty and ossiculoplasty. In: Cummings CW, Flint PW, Haughey BH, et al, eds. Otolaryngology: Head & Neck Surgery. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2010: chap 141.
Review Date: 8/3/2010
Reviewed By: Seth Schwartz, MD, MPH, Otolaryngologist, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Settle, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2004 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
Alternative Names
Myringoplasty; Tympanoplasty; Ossiculoplasty; Ossicular reconstruction; Tympanosclerosis - surgery; Ossicular discontinuity - surgery; Ossicular fixation - surgery
After the Procedure
Patients usually leave the hospital the same day as the surgery.
- Packing will be placed in the ear for the first 5 - 7 days.
- Sometimes a fresh dressing covers the ear itself.
Until your doctor or nurse says it is okay:
- Do not allow water to get into the ear. When showering or washing your hair, place cotton in the outer ear and cover it with petroleum jelly. Or, you can wear a shower cap.
- Do not "pop" your ears or blow your nose. If you need to sneeze, do so with your mouth. Draw any mucus in your nose back into your throat.
- Avoid air travel and swimming.
Gently wipe away any ear drainage on the outside of the ear. You may get ear drops the first week. Do not put anything else into the ear.
There are sometimes stitches behind the ear. If they become wet, gently dry the area. Do not rub.
You or your child may feel pulsing, or hear popping, clicking, or other sounds in the ear. The ear may feel full or as if it is filled with liquid. You may notice sharp, shooting pains off and on soon after the surgery.
To avoid catching a cold, stay away from crowded places and people with cold symptoms.
Outlook (Prognosis)
In most cases, the procedure relieves pain and infection symptoms completely. Hearing loss is minor.
The outcome may not be as good if the bones in the middle ear need to be reconstructed, along with the eardrum.
References
Fayad JN, Sheehy JL. Outer surface grafting technique. In: Brackmann D, Shelton C, Arriaga MA, eds. Otologic Surgery. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier;2009:chap 9.
Adams ME, El-Kashlan HK. Tympanoplasty and ossiculoplasty. In: Cummings CW, Flint PW, Haughey BH, et al, eds. Otolaryngology: Head & Neck Surgery. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2010: chap 141.
Review Date: 8/3/2010
Reviewed By: Seth Schwartz, MD, MPH, Otolaryngologist, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Settle, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2004 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
Alternative Names
Myringoplasty; Tympanoplasty; Ossiculoplasty; Ossicular reconstruction; Tympanosclerosis - surgery; Ossicular discontinuity - surgery; Ossicular fixation - surgery
Risks
Risks for any surgery are:
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Problems breathing
- Reactions to medications
Other risks include:
- Damage to the facial nerve or nerve controlling the sense of taste
- Damage to the small bones in the middle ear, causing hearing loss
- Dizziness or vertigo
- Incomplete healing of the hole in the eardrum
- Worsening of hearing, or, in rare cases, complete loss of hearing
References
Fayad JN, Sheehy JL. Outer surface grafting technique. In: Brackmann D, Shelton C, Arriaga MA, eds. Otologic Surgery. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier;2009:chap 9.
Adams ME, El-Kashlan HK. Tympanoplasty and ossiculoplasty. In: Cummings CW, Flint PW, Haughey BH, et al, eds. Otolaryngology: Head & Neck Surgery. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2010: chap 141.
Review Date: 8/3/2010
Reviewed By: Seth Schwartz, MD, MPH, Otolaryngologist, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Settle, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2004 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
Review Date: 8/3/2010
Reviewed By: Seth Schwartz, MD, MPH, Otolaryngologist, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Settle, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2004 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.