Myringoplasty

What are the benefits of surgery?

Surgery can prevent repeated ear infections and sometimes improve hearing.

Are there any alternatives to surgery?

Keeping the ear dry by placing cotton wool and Vaseline in the ear when bathing or washing your hair may prevent infection.

An infection can be treated with antibiotics and a trained healthcare practitioner can clean the ear. A hearing aid can improve poor hearing.

What does the operation involve?

A myringoplasty is usually performed under a general anaesthetic but a local anaesthetic can be used. The operation usually takes between an hour and an hour and a half.

Your surgeon will need to use a graft (piece of tissue) to cover the hole.

Your surgeon will insert the graft through a cut made either in front of or behind your ear or inside your ear canal. They will lift the eardrum and place the graft underneath it and support it with a dissolving sponge. They will then put the eardrum back.