Do you have a perforated eardrum? Let's talk about this surgery! (Myringoplasty)

Sometimes, a hard blow to the ear, an ear infection, or a mistake while cleaning your ear can cause your eardrum to rupture. Most of the time, this will heal on its own, but for some people, it doesn't. That's when doctors talk about this surgery called 'myringoplasty.' Let's take a look at what it is, who needs it, and how it's done.

What exactly is myringoplasty?

Simply put, myringoplasty is a surgery to repair a ruptured eardrum .

Our eardrum, or in medical terms, the tympanic membrane, is a very thin, tiny membrane between our outer and middle ear. It's like the skin of a drum. When sound waves from outside hit this membrane, it vibrates. That vibration is what helps us hear sound.

So when this eardrum is perforated, it becomes like a perforated drum, and sounds are not heard properly. Not only that, but water and germs from the outside can easily enter the middle ear and cause infections. This surgery involves putting a small 'patch', or graft, into the hole and restoring the eardrum to its normal position. This not only improves hearing, but it can also reduce the risk of more serious problems such as frequent ear infections, conditions like vertigo, and infections of the bone behind the ear (mastoiditis).

This is a very common surgery performed by ear, nose, and throat specialists (otolaryngologists). There are times when this surgery is required on both adults and children.

Who really needs this surgery?

Most of the time, a small hole will heal on its own within a few weeks. However, this is when a doctor decides to perform this surgery.

What materials are used to repair the eardrum? (Grafts)

Doctors use a variety of materials to create the patch or graft that closes the hole in your eardrum. Most of these are taken from your own body. So your body won't reject them.

• Temporalis fascia: This is the most commonly used method. This is a very strong tissue that is located just above your ear, around the muscle that moves the eardrum. During the surgery, a small piece of it is taken to close the hole in the eardrum.
• Perichondrium: This graft can also be done by taking a small piece of the membrane surrounding the cartilage in our earlobe.
• Fat: In some cases, a small piece of fat tissue taken from the earlobe is used to close the hole. This is also called a fat graft myringoplasty.
• Cartilage: There are cases where this surgery is performed by taking a small piece of the cartilage in the ear itself.
• Synthetic materials: Sometimes synthetic materials, such as special surgical paper, can also be used for this purpose.

Your doctor will decide which method is most suitable for you based on your condition.

How do you prepare before surgery?

Although this is not a major surgery, a little preparation is required.

• Be sure to tell your doctor about any medications, vitamins, or supplements you are taking before surgery.
• On the day of surgery, talk to a friend or family member who will take you to the hospital and back home.
• Plan to rest for a few days after surgery, avoiding work or school .

A little idea about how the surgery is performed

Most of the time, this surgery is done under general anesthesia. This means you won't feel anything, you'll be asleep. In some simple cases, it can be done under local anesthesia, which numbs just the ear.

During the surgery, the doctor will follow these steps:

1. Accessing the eardrum: A small incision is made through the ear canal or behind the ear to reach the eardrum.

2. Preparing the hole: The tissue around the hole is cleaned by scraping it a little, preparing it for the new graft to adhere well.

3. Obtaining the graft: Tissue such as the previously discussed ``Temporalis fascia'' is obtained from your own body.

4. Placement of the graft: The harvested piece of tissue is placed to close the hole and then prepared.

5. Filling and bandaging the ear: To keep the eardrum from moving, a special type of cotton is placed inside the ear and a bandage is applied on the outside.

This entire process usually takes between 30 and 90 minutes .

How to take care of yourself at home after surgery?

You can usually go home the same day after surgery. Here are some things you should take care of to help you recover quickly at home.

You can usually recover within a week or two. If you are an adult, it is best to stay off work for at least a week. If you are a child, keep them out of school for a week.

What are the benefits and risks of this surgery?

Like any surgery, this one has benefits and very minor risks.

Advantages

• This surgery is very successful . The success rate is over 90%.
• For many people , hearing improves after surgery.
• Because young children have good hearing, it greatly helps their speech and language development .
• Frequent ear infections can be prevented .

Risks

These are very rare things.

• Infection.
• Hearing different sounds in the ears (Tinnitus).
• Dizziness.
• Temporary or permanent hearing loss.
• Graft failure. This means that the transplanted tissue does not adhere.
• Recurrence of a hole in the eardrum.

When you need to see the doctor urgently!

If you experience any of these symptoms while at home after surgery, call your doctor immediately.

• If you have a fever higher than 39.4 Celsius (103 Fahrenheit) .
• If you have a severe earache that doesn't go away even after taking medicine.
• If you feel severe nausea.
• If you feel weakness in your facial muscles (like a frown).
• If you have difficulty breathing.
• If you experience severe dizziness or ringing in the ears (tinnitus) that does not go away.
• If the ear is bleeding heavily .

Although these things happen very rarely, it is very important to be aware of them.