Tympanoplasty (tympanoplasty) is actually the operation of repairing the rupture of the eardrum or tympanic membrane, during which the holes created on the tympanic membrane are repaired.
Usually, a severe injury or infection causes the eardrum to tear or create a hole on it, which will result in complications such as hearing loss. For this reason, in case of ear problems, you should consult an otolaryngologist.
In the rest of this article, the types of tympanoplasty surgery methods, its complications and the necessary care after this operation have been reviewed.
Types of tympanoplasty surgical procedures
Surgery (tympanoplasty) is performed in different ways and the doctor chooses one of the following methods for treatment according to the condition of the patient and the degree of rupture:
- Patch tympanoplasty
In this surgical method, the expert doctor uses a piece of paper that has biological tissue to repair the holes created by the tympanic membrane. - Internal tympanoplasty
In this method, the patient must undergo general anesthesia or local anesthesia. During this procedure, the surgeon places a graft tissue under the eardrum. Usually, this surgical procedure can be performed in three different ways (endoscope, microscope and incision behind the ear). - Fat tympanoplasty
Fat tympanoplasty is another type of ear membrane repair method that is usually performed with local anesthesia in the doctor’s office. In this surgical method, the doctor uses fat to repair the cavity or rupture of the eardrum. - Tympanoplasty by creating an incision behind the ear
When the tear rate is severe or other methods are not effective, the surgeon uses this method to repair the eardrum. As the name suggests, an incision is made behind the ear so that the surgeon can access the eardrum. To perform this procedure, the patient must be under general anesthesia and the surgery must be performed in the operating room. - Mastoidectomy tympanoplasty
Mastoiditis, which occurs due to a severe infection in the bone, is one of the diseases related to the ear, which if not treated on time, causes irreparable damage. Mastoidectomy tympanoplasty is another method of eardrum repair and ear infection treatment, during which the mastoid bone located in the back of the ear is shaved so that the infection does not penetrate to other parts of the ear.
Complications of tympanoplasty surgery
Each of the surgical and therapeutic methods has a series of complications. Of course, if the doctor has the necessary skills and experience, the complications of tympanoplasty surgery will be minimized. In general, it should be said that the complications of eardrum repair surgery are as follows:
- Pain in the ear
- infection
- Seventh nerve palsy
- Bleeding
- Failure to heal the created hole
- hearing loss
- Tinnitus
- Temporary dizziness
- Temporary change in the sense of taste (the taste nerve passes through the ear canal)
Necessary care after eardrum operation
Post-operative care plays an important role in improving the patient’s condition, so it is necessary for people to observe the following after tympanoplasty surgery:
- It is forbidden to perform heavy sports activities and dynamic games until 10 days after the surgery.
- One week after the surgery, the person should sleep in a semi-sitting position. For this reason, people are advised to place three pillows under their heads.
- Bathing is usually prohibited up to a week after surgery because water entering the ear or the surgical site can cause infection.
- Until the end of the recovery period, the person should refrain from intense fanning.
- A person should avoid bending the head for a week because it causes dizziness.
- Medicines prescribed by the doctor must be taken until the end of the period and according to the doctor’s instructions.
last word
Tympanoplasty surgery (tympanoplasty) is a treatment method to fix the rupture of the eardrum. This surgery is performed in different ways, and in this article, we have reviewed its types along with complications and necessary care after the operation.
