Tympanoplasty & Ossiculoplasty

Tympanoplasty surgery is the term used for an operation where any part of the eardrum and space behind the eardrum is reconstructed or repaired. This operation is performed to either repair a hole in the ear drum or strengthen a part of the ear drum that is weakened and leading to risk to the bones of hearing

Overview

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Why you might need?

What is a tympanoplasty?

Tympanoplasty surgery is the term used for an operation where any part of the ear drum and space behind the ear drum is reconstructed or repaired. This operation is performed to either repair a hole in the ear drum or strengthen a part of the ear drum that is weakened and leading to risk to the bones of hearing. A hole or weakness in the ear drum may typically lead to recurrent ear infections and/or hearing loss.

What is an ossiculoplasty?

Sometimes a procedure called an Ossiculoplasty is required, either alone or in addition to tympanoplasty. This is undertaken when there is disease affecting any of the three bones of hearing (malleus/incus/stapes). During the operation these bones may be re-organised, re- built (sometimes using bone cement) or removed/replaced with a titanium prosthesis. These prostheses are safe for future MRI scans and will not typically trigger airport security machines.

Treatment Info

What will happen during surgery?

The operation is performed in an operating theatre. It can be done with sedation and local anaesthetic, although general anaesthetic can also be used. Often no external cuts are involved in the surgery and it can all be done through the natural ear canal. If access is narrow then sometimes a cut behind the ear or above the ear canal is required, which will be closed with absorbable sutures at the end. In this circumstance, a scar may be visible but usually heals very well. Surgery typically takes an hour or less, and you can go home on the same day, using routine pain relief medications.

What happens after surgery?

A pack is left in the operated ear for around 2 weeks to reduce the risk of postoperative infections. Depending on the type of packing chosen on the day we may ask you to place antibiotics drops on this for two weeks. Due to the ear packing you will usually have reduced hearing until this is removed in the clinic. We will discuss with you precisely when the packing needs to be removed. A small trickle of blood or yellow liquid from your ear dressing is normal in the first few days. After surgery you must keep your operated ear dry for the first 6 weeks. The best way to avoid water getting into the operated ear canal is with a clean piece of cotton wool moulded with Vaseline that can be replaced daily. You must also avoid rapid air pressure changes and anything that ‘pops’ your ears for the first 6 weeks. Flying and some overground train tunnels induce pressure changes and so are to be avoided (travelling on the London underground is fine). If you do need to fly sooner than 6 weeks after surgery (for example if you live abroad), please discuss this with us. You should avoid nose-blowing during this time, and sneeze through your mouth whenever possible. We will usually recommend that you take 1-2 weeks off from work and strenuous exercise. Occasionally your operation may involve placing a head bandage at the end of the operation – this can usually be taken off at home the next day.

Treatment Risks

Tympanoplasty and Ossiculoplasty are safe procedures frequently performed without any problems. The nature of surgery and the anatomy involved means there are rare but documented risks of this kind of surgery which we will always talk through with you

These include:

Bleeding, Tinnitus, Infection, Dizziness, Pain, Numbness of ear, Ear dressing reaction, Graft failure, Failure or displacement of any prosthesis, Residual ear drum perforation, Scar, Facial weakness (very rare), Altered taste (1 in 5 temporary, permanent change very rare), No hearing improvement, Reduced hearing, Complete loss of hearing (very rare), The need for further surgery.

Treatment Aftercare

The alternative to surgery for hearing loss and discharge may be to try a hearing aid first and keep the ear scrupulously dry. There is no risk associated with this treatment option and our in-house audiology team is available to discuss this further. Managing a hole in the eardrum without surgery may require more future appointments for observation. Some people find wearing hearing aids inconvenient and depending on the individual ear’s condition there may also be an increased frequency of infections.

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Treatment Programme
Tympanoplasty & Ossiculoplasty

Introduction

Treatment

Risks

Aftercare

Must keep your ear dry for at least 6 weeks, avo...

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Health Insurance

This service or treatment is generally covered by most health insurance policies. You are responsible for checking your insurance policy cover, and you may need a referral letter. Check which insurance companies are covered.

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Self-Pay Available

This treatment is available for self-paying users. If you would like to see more information on pricing visit our pricing and payments page.

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Consultation Required

For this treatment you will need to have a 1-to-1 consultation at OneWelbeck first. To book in with our team of expert clinicians or to find out more about the process contact the relevant centre team.

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Next Day Availability

We usually have next day availability for this service, please call us to check availability.

Tympanoplasty & Ossiculoplasty Specialists

All our private ENT specialists at OneWelbeck in London are leaders in their sub-specialties, providing the highest quality treatment to ensure you receive the best available care. Click on the profiles below to see which of our consultants specialise in Tympanoplasty & Ossiculoplasty.

Earliest availability 22 Nov
Bookings are avaliable

Mrs Hala Kanona

Consultant Otologist and Auditory Implant Surgeon

Specialist expertise: Balance, Tinnitus, Ears, Otology, Ear, Nose and Throat, Hearing Loss, Dizziness, Ear Discharge, Facial Weakness, Blocked Ears, Glue Ear, Eustachian Tube Dysfunction, Cholesteatoma, Otosclerosis, Eardrum Retraction, Vestibular Neuronitis, Labyrinthitis, Tympanoplasty, Ossiculoplasty, Stapedectomy, Meatoplasty, Canalplasty, Bone Conduction Implants, Middle Ear Implants, Cochlear Implants, Wax Impaction, Acute Otitis Media, Ossicular Chain Disruption, Tympanosclerosis, Eardrum Perforation, BPPV, Ménière’s Disease, Superior Semi Circular Canal Dehiscence, Bell’s Palsy, Ramsey Hunt Syndrome, Grommets, Myringoplasty, Mastoidectomy, Revision Mastoid Surgery including Obliteration, Labyrinthectomy, Facial Nerve Decompression, Pulsatile tinnitus surgery, Microsuction, Foreign body removal, Ossiculoplasty.

Earliest availability 25 Nov
Bookings are avaliable

Mr Robert Nash

Consultant Otologist & Auditory Implant Surgeon

Specialist expertise: Ear, Nose and Throat, Otology, Hearing, Tinnitus, Cochlear Implants, Ear wax build-up, Hearing Loss, Deafness, Ear Infections, Otitis Media, Dizziness, Vertigo, Eustachian Tube Dysfunction, Perforated Eardrum, Myringotomy, Cholesteatoma, Tonsillectomy, Meniere’s Disease, Labyrinthitis, Microsuction, Grommet Insertion, Tympanoplasty, Ossiculoplasty, Stapedectomy, Bone Anchored Hearing Aid Insertion, Tympanomastoidectomy, Mastoid Cavity Obliteration.

Earliest availability 25 Nov
Bookings are avaliable

Mr Jeremy Lavy

Consultant ENT Surgeon

Specialist expertise: Ear, Nose and Throat, Cochlear Implants, Hearing, Otology, Hearing Loss, Paediatric ENT, Hearing Restoration Surgery, Stapedectomy, Ossiculoplasty, Myringotomy.

Earliest availability 26 Nov
Bookings are avaliable

Mr Joseph Manjaly

Consultant ENT Surgeon, Otologist & Hearing Implant Specialist

Specialist expertise: Ear, Nose and Throat, Microsuction, Otology, Tinnitus, Cochlear Implants, Hearing Loss, Blocked Ears, Ear Infections, Deafness, Ear wax build-up, Glue Ear, Otitis Media, Otorrhoea, Otalgia, Dizziness, Vertigo, Eustachian Tube Dysfunction, Perforated Eardrum, Eardrum Retraction, Otosclerosis, Tympanic Membrane Retraction, Cholesteatoma, Meniere’s Disease, Vestibular Neuronitis, Labyrinthitis, Tympanoplasty, Ossiculoplasty, Stapedectomy, Bone Anchored Hearing Aid Insertion, Myringotomy, Grommet Insertion, Bone Conduction Implants, Middle Ear Implants, Tympanomastoidectomy, Blind Sac Closure, Canalplasty, Meatoplasty, Mastoid Cavity Obliteration.

Earliest availability 28 Nov
Bookings are avaliable

Mr Nish Mehta

Paediatric and Adult ENT Consultant

Specialist expertise: Balance, Tinnitus, Ears, Otology, Ear, Nose and Throat.

Professor Shakeel Saeed

Consultant Neurotologist & Skull Base Surgeon

Specialist expertise: Hearing, Ear, Nose and Throat, Tinnitus, Cochlear Implants, Vestibular Schwannoma, Cholesteatoma, Otosclerosis, Meniere’s Disease, Vertigo, Voice Disorders, Facial Palsy, Glomus Tumour, Facial Nerve Tumours, Superior Semicircular Canal Dehiscence, Neurotology, Otology.

Mr Rupert Obholzer

Consultant Neurotologist & Skull base surgeon

Specialist expertise: Ear, Nose and Throat, Hearing, Cochlear Implants, Vestibular Schwannoma, Facial Palsy, Otology, Hearing Restoration Surgery, Acoustic Neuroma Surgery, Skull Base Disease, Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Leak Repair, Facial Nerve Surgery, Parotid Surgery, Head and Neck Surgery.

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