Tympanoplasty (say "tim-PAN-oh-plass-tee") is surgery to repair a hole in the eardrum. It may be done to improve hearing or to stop frequent ear infections that did not get better with other treatments.
Your child will get medicine to fall asleep or feel relaxed during the surgery. The surgery is usually done through the opening of the ear canal. Sometimes the surgery is done through a cut (incision) behind the ear. The doctor may use a small piece of tissue taken from behind your child's ear to patch the hole in the eardrum. Or the doctor may use an artificial graft to patch the hole. If your child had an incision behind the ear, the doctor will close it with stitches.
Your child will probably go home from the hospital on the same day of the surgery. Most children are able to go back to school or their normal routine in about 1 to 2 days. But they should not play hard or do things like sports for about 3 weeks.
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Surgery can be stressful. This information will help you understand what you can expect. And it will help you safely prepare for surgery.
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Tympanoplasty (say "tim-PAN-oh-plass-tee") is surgery to repair a hole in the eardrum. The surgery may have been done to improve hearing or to stop frequent ear infections that did not get better with other treatments.
You may feel dizzy for a few days after surgery. If the doctor made a cut (incision) behind your ear, the incision may be sore. You may have ear pain for about a week. Some bloody fluid may drain from your ear canal and the incision.
Your ear will probably feel blocked or stuffy. You may not be able to hear as well as before. This usually gets better as the eardrum heals and the foam packing or ointment dissolves. The packing will dissolve about 1 to 2 weeks after surgery.
If you have stitches, they may dissolve on their own, or the doctor may need to take them out. Your doctor will discuss this with you.
It may take time before your hearing gets better. Your doctor will test your hearing after your ear has healed. This may be 8 to 12 weeks after surgery.
While you are healing, it's important to avoid getting water in your ear. You will also need to avoid heavy lifting, strenuous exercise, and other activities that may put pressure on your eardrum. This includes flying in an airplane, swimming, scuba diving, and playing contact sports.
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