What is tympanoplasty?
The eardrum tears can be treated by tympanoplasty which is a restorative intervention. It is performed under general anesthesia and lasts from 1 to 2 hours.
The abnormal tissues are removed from the middle ear after cleaning it. Then, the surgeon reconstructs the eardrum destroyed by an autograft. The tissues used are essentially the aponeurosis of the temporal muscle behind the ear, the envelope of the cartilage of the ear (called perichondre) or the cartilage itself.
The collected natural support is positioned at the level of the tympanic perforation. By capillarity, the remaining layer buds and closes the perforation. The choice of grafting material differs according to the size of the hole and the surgeon’s habits. Sutures are not required, but may be required to place an absorbable sponge to support the graft.
This operation is usually associated with ossiculoplasty, in case of impairment of the ossicular chain of the middle ear.
The eardrum is a very thin membrane located between the outer and middle ear. Being very fragile, it can be pierced. Causes of perforation of otitis media especially recurrent or mechanical or barometric injuries (scuba diving, explosion, etc.). Perforation is responsible for otalgia, otorrhea or otorragia. A decrease in hearing is frequently observed.
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