What is tympanoplasty and when is it needed?
The eardrum is a thin membrane that separates the outer ear canal from the middle ear. When it is damaged, sound transmission is impaired, hearing declines, and the middle ear becomes vulnerable to infections. Tympanoplasty is surgery to close the defect in the eardrum using the patient's own tissue as a graft.
Medical fact. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, tympanoplasty successfully restores the integrity of the eardrum in 95% of cases.
Causes of eardrum damage
Perforation occurs for various reasons. The most common are:
- chronic middle ear infection with prolonged discharge;
- trauma — a sharp change in pressure, mechanical impact;
- a complication of acute otitis, when the eardrum ruptures under pressure;
- damage from improper care of the ear canal.
Helyos Medical Center also offers tonsillectomy — removal of the tonsils for chronic tonsillitis.
When is surgery needed to restore hearing?
Surgery is considered for persistent middle ear changes that do not respond to conservative treatment. Indications for tympanoplasty include:
- persistent eardrum perforation;
- conductive hearing loss;
- recurrent middle ear infections.
Before the surgical intervention, otoscopy, audiometry, and, if needed, a CT scan of the temporal bones are performed.
How is tympanoplasty performed?
During the operation, the surgeon restores the integrity of the eardrum using a graft taken from the patient's own tissue. In most cases, the patient can go home on the day of surgery.
Procedure parameters:
- anesthesia — general;
- duration — from 30 minutes to 2 hours;
- follow-up audiometry — after 8–12 weeks;
- full hearing recovery — 2–3 months.
In addition to tympanoplasty, the ENT surgeons at Helyos Medical Center perform conchotomy and conchoplasty — operations aimed at correcting the nasal conchae and improving nasal breathing.
Recovery after eardrum surgery
The first weeks after surgery are a period of active tissue healing. During this time, hearing may remain reduced. It will gradually improve as the eardrum heals.
Important! During rehabilitation, the ear must be protected from water, and sudden pressure changes and physical exertion should be avoided. Nose-blowing in the first weeks should be done carefully — one nostril at a time.
Advantages of treatment at Helyos Medical Center
Helyos Medical Center offers a full cycle of ENT care at an affordable price: from the initial consultation and diagnostics through to surgical intervention and rehabilitation. The specialists work according to modern treatment protocols, giving individual attention to every patient. The medical center also performs endolaryngeal surgery of the larynx and other minimally invasive ENT operations.
To find out how much tympanoplasty costs and to book an appointment, call +380670000150 or use the online form on the website. Consulting a doctor at the first symptoms is the best way to preserve your health and good hearing.
