Tympanoplasty

Tympanoplasty is a surgical procedure performed to repair a perforation on  the eardrum ( myringoplasty) and help restore normal hearing by reconstructing the hearing bones (ossiculoplasty), if necessary. Childhood eardrum perforations normally heal spontaneously, so this surgery is usually not performed in children under four years of age. 

The surgery

The surgery usually lasts from one to three hours, and it can be done in both local, or under general anaesthesia.

The surgeon makes and incision behind the ear to expose the middle ear cavity and the eardrum. A piece of thin connective tissue called graft is placed under the peforation to provide a matrix for the eardrum skin to heal and grow across.  The ear is then stitched together, and a sterile patch is placed on the outside of the ear canal. In some cases not only the perforation on the eardrum, but also damaged hearing bones stand behind the hearing loss. In these cases reconstruction of the hearing bones (ossiculoplasty) is done if it's possible. In severe cases, the permanent inflammation of the middle ear (chronic otitis media) is caused by cholesteatoma, a special type of inflammation that behaves as tumors. It is not always possible to reconstruct of the hearing bones at the same time in these cases, half or one year later a revision surgery is necessary for the ossiculoplasty, and to controll the disease. 

After surgery

Patients get painkiller after the surgery and antibiotics, if necessary. After about 10 days the packing is removed and the ear is evaluated to see if the graft was successful attached. Water should be kept away from the ear, and nose blowing is discouraged. Patients can usually return to work after five or six days, or two to three weeks if they perform heavy physical labour. 

Complications and risks

Every surgery carries the possibilities of complications. In case of tympanoplasty the following complications may also occur hearing loss, facial nerve injury, dizziness, failure of the graft to heal, narrowing (stenosis) of the ear canal, scarring or adhesions in the middle ear; perilymph fistula and hearing loss; erosion or extrusion of the prosthesis; dislocation of the prosthesis.

You can avoid most complications by choosing the right surgeon and following pre- and postoperative instructions.

TIME OF STAY

10 days (2 days in Hospital)