1. What is tympanoplasty?
Tympanoplasty is a type of ear surgery that closes a perforated eardrum. Tympanoplasty is a middle ear operation which aims to improve the aeration system from the eustachian tube to the temporal bone as well as improve the mechanical delivery system of sound waves and create clean and dry conditions.
2. What is the purpose of tympanoplasty surgery?
The main aim of this operation is to eradicate infection in the middle ear due to a perforated eardrum. Closing a perforated eardrum is expected to reduce the risk of foreign objects, bacteria and other materials entering the middle ear from outside the ear through the ear canal. Therefore, patients with perforated eardrums are not allowed to swim because of the risk of unclean water entering the middle ear, causing recurrent infections.
3. How many types of tympanoplasty surgery are there?
There are 5 types of tympanoplasty based on the damage that has occurred to the middle ear, especially to the auditory bones (malleus, incus and stapes). The following types of tympanoplasty are based on Wulstein:
Type I tympanoplasty or what is called myringoplasty. Only reconstructs the perforated tympanic membrane without changing the ossicular system.
Type II tympanoplasty is used for perforation of the tympanic membrane with erosion of the malleus.
Type III tympanoplasty is indicated for damage to the two auditory ossicles while the stapes is still intact and mobile.
Type IV tympanoplasty is used for auditory ossicle damage involving all or part of the stapes arch.
Type V tympanoplasty is used on a fixed stapes foot.
4. What is the tympanoplasty surgery procedure?
This tympanoplasty operation can be performed using a microscope or an endoscope. Each procedure has advantages and disadvantages. This operation requires a graft (graft) as a covering material for the perforated eardrum. This graph material is taken from the patient himself. Grafts that can be used include fat, muscle covering, perichondrium, cartilage and bone.
5. What complications might occur in this operation?
Complications of this operation can occur reperforation (perforation of the operated eardrum again). Failure to re-close a perforated eardrum can be caused by various things, including impaired tubal function, choice of graft material, vascularization of the tympanic membrane, comorbidities in the patient such as diabetes and high blood pressure.