Myringoplasty / TYMPANOPLASTY
Operation time: 60-120 Mins
Anaesthesia: General
Admission: Day case
Myringoplasty is a routine ENT operation performed to repair a hole in the eardrum. In doing so, the ear is rendered ‘waterproof’ and the risk of ear infections is significantly reduced. The rate of success ranges between 85-95% depending on the size and location of the hole, and other general medical factors such as diabetes or immunosuppression.
Our team use a modern endoscopic approach (through the ear canal) to perform the vast majority of these cases. This approach provides significant advantages compared to conventional endaural (incision in front of the ear) or post-auricular (large incision behind the ear) techniques, with faster recovery, less postoperative pain, and better intraoperative visualisation. In many cases an additional procedure, ossiculoplasty, can be performed during the same operation to restore hearing using a variety of techniques.
Post-operative instructions
In most cases a dissolvable packing material is used to fill the ear canal and protect the repair. Antibiotic ear drops are used for the next 2 weeks to dissolve this packing, during which time the ear will gradually unblock.
2 Ear drops to applied twice per day for 2 weeks
Avoid air travel for 6 weeks following surgery
Avoid water into the ear until 1st clinic follow-up appointment
A small amount of leaking / bleeding from the ear canal is common following surgery - cotton wool may be applied and changed as needed