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PATIENT INFORMATION ON
TYMPANOPLASTY Tympanoplasty is a microsurgical technique used to repair broken eardrums. A small graft is obtained upon entering the ear. The graft is used to patch the hole in the ear drum. Tympanoplasty or reconstruction of the middle
ear hearing mechanism serves the purpose of rebuilding the ear drum and/or
middle ear bones. An excellent result may be expected in 80-90% of cases;
failure to improve is not a complication. Success depends almost as much on the
ability of the body to heal and preserve the reconstruction as it does on the
surgeon's skill. Fortunately, even those cases that fail may be revised and have
the same high degree of expected good result. There are, nevertheless, some
complications that do occasionally occur. Further hearing loss (rarely total)
happens less than 10% of the time when the middle ear bones are rebuilt, and for
that reason ossiculoplasty is not advised unless hearing is poor. Hearing loss
is uncommon if the operation is limited to repairing the ear drum. Injury to the
facial nerve as a result of this surgery is rare. There is a slightly greater
risk when mastoidectomy is also performed, but once again, the most experienced
surgeons may only encounter this complication once or twice in his/her career.
As a general statement, complete success in restoring hearing without
complication is related to the severity of the disease present before surgery,
and those are the cases that have the highest priority for surgical management.
Loss of sense of taste in the side of the tongue may occur. It is usually only a
minor inconvenience for a few weeks. Persistent post-operative dizziness is
almost unheard of after surgery limited to the repair of an eardrum perforation
and uncommon after rebuilding the ear bones. Unless control of infection is the
reason for surgery, tympanoplasty is an elective procedure. Use of a hearing aid
may be an alternative to reconstructive surgery. If the ear drum perforation is
not repaired, ear plugs are recommended to protect the middle ear from
contamination when bathing. This may help to prevent infection and its
complications. Ossiculoplasty involves reconstruction of the hearing bones (ossicles). When hearing bones are eaten away by tumor, they can be replaced with synthetic bones. These synthetic bones need to be placed in proper alignment to conduct sound to the inner ear.
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Questions or problems regarding this web site should be directed to Dr-Li@Dr-Li.net.
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