Definition of Tympanoplasty
Tympanoplasty is commonly referred to in layman's terms as eardrum repair surgery. A doctor orders this procedure done if the person has suffered a perforated eardrum and the damage needs to be repaired in order to prevent hearing loss. An ENT (ear, nose and throat) surgeon is likely to perform a tympanoplasty.
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Causes
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Tympanoplasty is done to repair a perforation that has occurred on the eardrum. A perforation is a hole found on the eardrum. A perforated eardrum is most often caused by chronic ear infections. In rarer cases, a person can suffer from this condition if the ear has undergone some type of trauma. A perforated ear drum can cause hearing loss, pain, ear pus and ear ringing.
Procedure
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When a person undergoes a tympanoplasty, he is placed under local or general anesthesia for the duration of the procedure. To access the perforated area, the doctor makes an incision inside of the ear canal. If the surgeon cannot access the perforation through this method, he may need to make a small incision behind the ear. To make the repair, tissue is taken from behind the ear and then grafted onto the eardrum. Packing is then applied to keep the graft in place.
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Considerations
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If scar tissue is found during the tympanoplasty procedure, the doctor needs to remove it with a laser before proceeding to repair the perforated eardrum. Also, if you have an incision behind the ear, stitches are used to repair the area.
Post-Operative Care
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Once the sedation has worn off, a patient usually is discharged following the procedure. There may be some pain from the tympanoplasty, so a prescription painkiller may be given. Also, the patient may need to finish a course of antibiotics in order to prevent infection. Patients need to return to the doctor for a follow up visit to remove the ear packing and to ensure that the procedure was successful.
Warning
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There are complications that can occur when you have a tympanoplasty, which may include unsuccessful grafting, infection, nerve injuries, hearing loss and ear ringing. Your doctor will discuss risks with you prior to the procedure.
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