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Myringoplasty(1)
Myringoplasty is the procedure to close a hole (“perforation”) in the ear drum. The operation is usually indicated if the ear is recurrently infected or, to prevent infection, when there is significant unwanted lifestyle restriction (eg. no swimming). Hearing is not usually improved with this procedure.
The Operation
The success rate of the operation is much higher if the ear is not infected at the time of the procedure. For this reason the patient is seen about a week before the operation date and the ear is examined to ensure it is dry. If the ear is infected the operation will be postponed until it is made dry with antibiotic drops.
On the day of the operation the patient is seen by both surgeon and anaesthetist. The procedure takes approximately 1 hour under a general anaesthetic. The ear drum is approached either from an incision behind the ear or down through the ear canal depending on the position of the perforation. The rim of the hole is removed, the ear drum elevated and some tissue from behind the ear is placed under the hole to act as a graft. Small dressings are then inserted into the ear canal and the incision sutured. A head bandage is required overnight to prevent collection of blood beneath the wound. All being well the patient is discharged the next day following bandage removal.
Risks
The failure rate of the procedure varies between 5 and 20% depending on the condition of the ear. Infection and bleeding are rare. Whenever we operate on the ear the risks include reduced hearing, loss of all hearing, dizziness, facial nerve palsy with facial weakness, numbness of the external ear and change in taste sensation. All the serious potential complications are rare.
The Operation
The success rate of the operation is much higher if the ear is not infected at the time of the procedure. For this reason the patient is seen about a week before the operation date and the ear is examined to ensure it is dry. If the ear is infected the operation will be postponed until it is made dry with antibiotic drops.
On the day of the operation the patient is seen by both surgeon and anaesthetist. The procedure takes approximately 1 hour under a general anaesthetic. The ear drum is approached either from an incision behind the ear or down through the ear canal depending on the position of the perforation. The rim of the hole is removed, the ear drum elevated and some tissue from behind the ear is placed under the hole to act as a graft. Small dressings are then inserted into the ear canal and the incision sutured. A head bandage is required overnight to prevent collection of blood beneath the wound. All being well the patient is discharged the next day following bandage removal.
Risks
The failure rate of the procedure varies between 5 and 20% depending on the condition of the ear. Infection and bleeding are rare. Whenever we operate on the ear the risks include reduced hearing, loss of all hearing, dizziness, facial nerve palsy with facial weakness, numbness of the external ear and change in taste sensation. All the serious potential complications are rare.
