Tympanoplasty in India

Tympanoplasty is a procedure that is performed to close small holes in the eardrum or repair damaged eardrum. This surgery is performed to repair only the eardrum, and not the ear bones.

In this surgery, the hole is patched with a graft of the patient’s own tissue. Generally, a connective tissue called fascia or perichondrium are used.

For relatively smaller holes in the eardrum, Myringoplasty is used. In this surgery, a small piece of special paper or gel foam is used to temporarily cover the holes.

The doctor generally waits for 4 to 6 weeks to allow natural healing, after eardrum has developed any defect or a hole.

However, if the eardrum is does not get repaired by natural healing process, then the doctor might suggest the surgery. The eardrum needs a repair in following cases:

• A tiny hole in the eardrum
• Tinnitus (ringing in the ear)
• Severe ear infection

Eardrum defects are common in children.

The doctor will instruct to fast for 8 to 10 hours, prior to the surgery.

The surgery is performed under general anesthesia by an experienced ENT surgeon. The procedure generally takes 2 to 3 hours.

During the surgery,

• The surgeon uses an operating microscope to view the eardrum through the ear canal. If the canal is too small, then an incision may be made behind the ear.
• In underlay technique, the graft is placed in such a way that it extends under the hole to be repaired. 
• Overlay technique involves the placement of the graft on the outside of the tympanic membrane.
• To hold the tissue in place, a speacial sheet is used to pack the graft. This sheet gradually dissolves over the next 2 to 3 months while the eardrum heals.

After the procedure, the patient may return home on the same day.

The doctor will advise to

• Avoid strenuous activities for first few weeks.
• Strictly avoid blowing the nose
• Keep ear away from the water

Tympanoplasty is relatively a safe procedure. However, commonly known risks include:

• Incomplete healing of the hole in the eardrum
• Bleeding or infection in the ear
• Worsening of hearing, or, in rare cases, complete loss of hearing