Myringoplasty: Repairing your perforated eardrum (Tympanic Membrane) A commonform of ear disease is Chronic Suppurative otitis Media (CSOM) CSOM has largely ben broadly categorised into two types :- 

TWO TYPES OF CSOM :  CSOM Attico Antral Disease – or     unsafe CSOM – The ear disease can travel deep inside, damage surrounding tissues and can cause multiple complications including sensorineural hearing loss, facial nerve paralysis, giddiness, infection in the brain etc. 

This disease is usually caused by a Cholesteatoma and requires urgent attention, usually by a corrective surgery.  

CSOM Tubo Tympanic Disease – or     safe CSOM – typically due to a central type of Tympanic Membrane     perforation. This is usually, though not always, a safer kind of infection. The final treatment is repair of the perforated ear drum by a procedure called Myringoplasty. Meaning  Myringo- eardrum  Plasty- repair of    MyringoplastyVersus Tympanoplasty – what is the difference? Though verysimilar in approach and concept, a Myringoplasty is a simple repair of the eardrum, presuming the middle ear (including the ossicles) to be free of disease. 

A Tympanoplasty consists of first visualizing the middle ear to look for disease,including the condition of the middle ear bones (Ossicles). If found defective, the ossicular chain is repaired and then the eardrum is repaired – so aTympanoplasty is in effect a more comprehensive form of repair. It is a largersurgery than a simple Myringoplasty.  Myringoplastyis thus a surgery for repair of a perforated eardrum. 

Indications  Myringoplastyis performed for simple ear drum perforation when the following criteria aremet  Simple eardum perforation without ossicular disturbance. Functional Eustachian Tube  Adequate air-bone gap (difference between bone conduction and air conduction on an audiogram).  The ear is dry- or at least not actively discharging – not mandatory but dry ears are usually easier to work with approches The following approaches may be used to perform a Myringoplasty  Permeatal – via the ear canal  Post Aural- incision is made in the groove behind the ear  Endaural- the incision is made in front of the ear – between the pinna and the tragus Microscopic versus Endoscopic The traditional method of performing a Myringoplasty is by using an Operating Microscope. There has recently been some interest in performing the surgeryusing a rigid telescope – the so called ‘Endoscopic Technique’.  

Though the Microscopic technique is tried and tested with very gratifying results theEndoscope may offer some advantage in difficult to see areas since the microscope can only visualise in its direct line of vision. The Endoscopic technique however is usually a single hand technique.  The debatemay settle by a ‘Hybrid’ approach where depending upon the requirement one or both techniques may be employed to offer the chances of the most favourable outcome to the patient. Anaesthesia used the surgery can be performed under various anaesthetic techniques local Anaesthesia – in young,     willing patients, or in some patients. where a General Anaesthesia is contraindicated for some reason  MAC – Modified Anaesthesia care – an Anaesthetist sedates the patient and takes care of pain and other discomfort  General Anaesthesia – where the patient is made unconscious surgcal step.

The surgeon follows the following routine steps  Anaesthesia and incision  collection of graft material freshening the edges of the perforation – as for any chronic non healing ulcer.  Lifting the Tympanomeatal flap-   the skin of the ear canal along with the eardrum remnant  Placement of gelfoam pledgets in the middle ear for support of the graft  Placing the graft- usually  under the annulus (the outer lining of the eardrum). Tucking in the graft and replacing the skin flap  applying dressing material in the ear canal and closing the wound.  A mastoid bandage is applied to cover the ear/ wound graftmaterial used the hole in the eardrum can be repaired by various materials which could be artificial orhuman tissue. Because of the body’s capability of graft rejection homologousmaterial (from own body) is always the safest and best tolerated – reduces chances of graft rejection  Paper- parchment paper can sometimes be used to repair a pinhole perforation with varied results.

Temporalis Fascia – probably the most common graft material used for repair of the ear drum. Perichondrium-usually from the cartilage in front of the ear Composite graft – consisting of cartilage plus perichondrium-taken from the tragus- the cartilage gives the graft stability and is also useful in covering canal wall/ attic defects or retractions  Periosteum – specially in patients with subtotal perforations because periosteum lasts longer than other tissues or when other graft materials are not available. Recently some other synthetic materials have been made available but they are not incommon use.

Post Operative Care First post operative visit is usually on 5-7th day after the surgery  Bandage is removed, sutures are  removed (if required)  Ear pack is usually removed at10-14 days. There will be a feeling of     witness in the operated ear on account of the gelfoam etc.  Recovery takes about 4-6 weeks does and  Dont ofter the Surgery  Keep the operated ear and the dressing dry  Take medication as advised  Avoid air travel or pressure changes for 3-4 weeks after the surgery  Call for guidance immediately in case of Swelling over the face/ ear  Loss of movement of facial muscles on operated side.

Excessive pain  Fresh bleeding  Giddiness Myringoplastyis a safe and effective surgery and has gratifying results in properlyindicated cases. Take goodcare of your ears to avoid any preventable injuries and trauma. Remember, youdo not need to clean your ears, even with a cotton swab – the wax in your earsmigrates outwards periodically. All you need to do is brush it out from outsidethe ear canal.  

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