Eardrum repair

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Eardrum repair - series

Eardrum repair is a procedure to correct a tear in the eardrum (tympanic membrane) or the small bones in the middle ear.

Tympanoplasty

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.

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).

Review Date: 10/20/2006
Reviewed By: Alden J. Pearl, M.D., Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Otolaryngology, State University of New York Health Science Center at Brooklyn, Brooklyn, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.