Eardrum repair

What it is?
Procedure (called Tympanoplasty) is to repair or correct a tear in the eardrum (tympanic membrane) or the small bones in the middle ear.

Description
             Using general anesthesia, an ear-nose-throat (ENT) specialist grafts a small patch from a vein or fascia (muscle sheath) onto the eardrum to repair the tear. For problems with the small bones (ossicles), the surgeon will use an operating microscope to view and repair this chain of small bones using plastic devices or ossicles from a donor.
                                    

             The tympanic membrane, or eardrum, separates the ear canal and the inner ear. The ossicles are small bones which connect the tympanic membrane to the inner ear.

Indications
If antibiotics or other non-operative treatments do not heal chronic ear infections, surgical eardrum repair may be necessary.
Chronic middle ear infections are described as:
Seven or more ear infections in a year
Five or more ear infections a year for 2 years
Signs of chronic ear infections include persistent ear pain, ear drainage, or hearing loss (over a 3-month period).

Risks
Risks for any anesthesia are:
Reactions to medications
Problems breathing

Risks for any surgery are:
Bleeding
Infection

Additional risks include:
Incomplete healing of the hole in the eardrum
Damage to the small bones in the middle ear, causing hearing loss
Need for further surgery

After the Procedure
             In most cases, the operation 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 reconstruction along with the eardrum.

Prognosis
             Patients usually leave the hospital the same day as the surgery. It is important to avoid water in the ear. Your health care provider may recommend the use of a hair cap when showering for a few weeks after the procedure.

Reference:  MedlinePlus