PERFORATION OF THE EAR DRUM
As most perforations heal on their own surgery is rarely the immediate treatment but it is important to keep the ear dry to try to prevent further infections. If it fails to heal surgical repair of the perforation may be carried out usually under a general anaesthetic (myringoplasty). Sometimes the surgery can be carried out down the ear canal with only a small incision above the ear to take the graft that is used to repair the drum; the graft may be a thin layer of fibrous tissue or cartilage which are both incorporated into the ear drum and achieve good success rates. If there is some damage to the ossicles this may be repaired at the same time. Occasionally a perforation occurs in children and may be repaired around the age of 9years old.
Once the ear drum has been successfully repaired there should be no further infections of the ear.
Click to download information booklet: Myringoplasty
The North Hampshire ENT Partnership is a team of consultants specialising in a wide spectrum of diseases and disorders that affect the Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) including snoring and sleep disorders, cosmetic and skin surgery.
Our surgeons provide specialist care by drawing from the 50 plus years of combined NHS experience and the many areas of individual specialist expertise available within the partnership.