Ear drum repair (tympanoplasty)

A tympanoplasty is the surgical repair or reconstruction of the middle ear.

There are risks and complications with this procedure. They include but are not limited to the following.

General risks

• Infection can occur, requiring antibiotics and further treatment.
• Bleeding could occur and may require a return to the operating room.
• Small areas of the lung can collapse, increasing the risk of chest infection. This may need antibiotics and physiotherapy.
• Increased risk in obese people of wound infection, chest infection, heart and lung complications, and thrombosis.
• Heart attack or stroke could occur due to the strain on the heart.
• Blood clot in the leg (DVT) causing pain and swelling. In rare cases part of the clot may break off and go to the lungs.
• Death as a result of this procedure is rare but possible.

Specific risks

• Bleeding or infection in the ear or in the wound. Rarely, an infection may spread to adjacent structures including the brain causing meningitis or a brain abscess
• Facial nerve palsy. Injury to the nerve controlling the muscles of the face may result in paralysis of the face muscles. This may be temporary or may rarely be permanent
• Persistence or recurrence of the cholesteatoma may occur requiring further surgery
• Ringing in the ear (tinnitus), dizziness, or an altered sensation of taste may occur and may be temporary or permanent
• Partial loss of hearing or total loss of hearing may rarely occur and may be permanent
• Failure to improve hearing. An improvement in hearing may not be apparent despite the surgery being successful in eliminating the disease
• Discharging ear. Persistent pain and discharge may occur requiring further surgery