What is Tympanoplasty?

Tympanoplasty is a surgery done to repair the eardrum and middle ear bones. The eardrum and bones are necessary to hear.

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Types of tympanoplasty include:

• Myringoplasty—repair of a tear in the eardrum
• Tympanoplasty with ossiculoplasty—repair of a tear in the eardrum and correction of a defect in the bones of the middle ear
• Tympanoplasty with mastoidectomy—repair of a tear in the eardrum and eradication of bony infection in the area behind the ear

The procedure can also help to:

• Restore hearing and treat certain types of deafness
• Prevent infection of the middle ear

Possible Complications

Complications are rare, but no procedure is completely free of risk. If you are planning to have a tympanoplasty, your doctor will review a list of possible complications, which may include:

• Infection
• Failure to restore hearing
• Damage to structures in or near the middle ear:

• Nerves—resulting in loss or distortion of taste, paralysis of the face
• Middle ear bones—resulting in loss of hearing that may be permanent or require further surgery
• Inner ear structures—resulting in dizziness

Call Your Doctor

After arriving home, contact your doctor if any of the following occurs:

• Signs of infection, including fever and chills
• Increasing fluid or foul-smelling fluid draining from the ear
• Redness, swelling,...