Q- What is Tympanoplasty or eardrum repair surgery?

Tympanum means eardrum. Tympanoplasty is a surgery to reconstruct a damaged, diseased, perforated eardrum or bones surrounding it. There are majorly three tiny bones also known as ossicles. This surgery not only heals the eardrum but also aims to improve the hearing ability of the person.

Q- Who all needs Tympanoplasty?

People with defects in eardrums like diseased surrounding cells, and perforated ear drums may or maybe not be the result of injury or infection, or with age also hearing abilities are impaired.

Q- What are the Preoperative measures?

Tympanoplasty is of five types basically, depending on symptoms and damage surgeon takes the call.  Indications and outcomes vary in all cases, depending on perforation size, likewise, at times small perforations heal by themselves and at times the cause of lack of blood healing doesn’t happen and leaves large perforations. In addition, the location of the perforation, surgical techniques opted, and majorly health of the ear also alter the outcomes.

Q- What is the procedure of Ear Drum Surgery?

After examining the middle ear, the surgeon chooses the technique for the surgery considering certain factors like size, location of the perforation, which area is infected, cyst growth, infection in the ear, and the surgeon’s preference. Grafting and various material if required is also used.

In tympanoplasty where there is perforation of the eardrum is involved, the ENT  surgeon gives an incision depending on the location of the hole under an operating microscope to enlarge the view. If the hole is large and is far forward, an incision is given behind the ear. Access to the perforation is obtained by elevating the outer ear forward. The surgeon examines the bones and tissue inside the ear, infected tissues are removed with help of medical tools. A graft is made to enclose the hole in ear drum with the help of tissues from the back of the ear.  With the help of a gelatin sponge placed under the eardrum, graft is supported. Stitches are normally under the skin and a sterile patch is placed on the patient’s ear.

Q- What is the post-procedure impact of Tympanoplasty?

Dizziness and imbalance are observed in a few cases, which disappear after 2 weeks. Antibiotics are given to the patient, to prevent any kind of infection in the ear. After a week, packing is removed to check if grafting is proper. After the period of three-four weeks, grafting is analyzed whether its successfully done or not by removing all the packing under the operating microscope. A hearing test is done after five to six weeks. The patient is asked not to blow their nose and to keep their ears away from water. Any infection in the ear can delay the time of healing of the graft.

Q- What may the surgical complications be?

Recurrence of perforation, cyst n growth (cholesteatoma), no improvement in hearing quality, hearing loss which is very rare, noises in the ear like echoing. Infection in graft, not placed properly in specific place, the middle ear is not cleaned thoroughly, and left with diseased cells are some complications that can be altered with proper surgical plans.

Q- What is the cost of surgery of Tympanoplasty or Ear Drum Surgery?

The surgery cost of Tympanoplasty or ear drum surgery starts from  40,000 INR, depending upon the room category selected and patient history. Contact us for getting a second opinion.

Q- What is an alternative to Tympanoplasty?

Myringoplasty is another way to reconstruct of the eardrum, provided there is no infection in the ear.