Type of Surgery
Information
Last updated: 02/17/2009
In the United States, ear disorders leading to hearing loss affect all ages. Over 60% of the population with hearing loss is under the age of 65, although nearly 25% of those above age 65 have a hearing loss that is considered significant. Causes include: birth defect (4.4%), ear infection (12.2%), ear injury (4.9%), damage due to excessive noise levels (33.7%), advanced age (28%), and other problems (16.8%).
Advertisement
Other Information
Tympanoplasty is reconstructive surgery for the tympanic membrane, or eardrum. There are several options for treating a perforated eardrum. If the perforation is from recent trauma, many ENTs will elect to watch and see if it heals on its own. After that, surgery may be considered. Tympanoplasty can be performed through the ear canal or through an incision behind the ear. The surgeon takes a graft from the tissues under the skin around the ear and uses it to reconstruct the eardrum. One of the most common graft sites is from the tragus. The surgery takes ½ to 1 hour if done through the ear canal and 2⅓ to 3 hours if an incision is needed. It is done under local or general anesthesia. It is done on an outpatient basis and is successful 85-90% of the time.
Other Information
Mastoidectomy is done to make the ear safe, since infection in the skull may be dangerous and can cause infection in and around the brain. With this procedure we hope to make the ear dry and possibly improve the hearing.
-P H Jones
Find a Qualified Specialist
Looking for a specialist?
Please enter your zip code.
