Myringoplasty

Myringoplasty is an operation performed to repair a hole in the ear drum.

Holes in the eardrum are usually cause by infection or trauma and are associate with decreased hearing acuity, dizziness or intermittent discharge from the ear.

The operation is performed under a general anaesthetic.

Depending on the site of the hole, an incision or cut is made either behind the ear or in the ear canal. Tissue is harvested from the region of the temple and grafted to the eardrum to repair the hole.

The operation takes about 2 hours, involved packing in the ear for about 3 – 4 days and one day of hospitalisation.

It is uncommon to do this procedure in children under the age of 5; the operation is most commonly performed in older children or young adults.