The ear consists of three parts: outer, middle and inner. The middle ear contains the eardrum and ear bones. Any disease that affects the eardrum or bones causes conductive hearing loss by blocking the transmission of sound from the outer ear to the inner ear. Such a disease can be in a different frame, from a hole in the eardrum, the destruction of one or more of the ear bones, to the disruption of the bone chain.
When an inflammation occurs in the middle ear, the eardrum can be punctured and the inflammation can flow out. This hole often heals and closes on its own. If it fails to heal, hearing loss occurs, often accompanied by tinnitus and intermittent or continuous discharge.
Ear Care : If your eardrum has a hole, you should not leak water into your ear. When taking a bath or washing your head, you should put a piece of cotton plastered with vaseline in your ear. When swimming, it is useful to put a tight swimming cap on the cotton with vaseline. In addition, earplugs of various sizes are also sold in grocery stores and pharmacies.
You should avoid blowing your nose vigorously. This event causes the microbes in your nose and nose to reach the middle ear through the “Eustachian tube” located between the nasal Decussation and the middle ear. The runny nose should be pulled inward, spit out. If it is very necessary to blow your nose, it is recommended to do this without closing the other nostril.
As long as there is an ear discharge, the ear should be cleaned as much as possible without inserting too much into it. If there is a runny ear or it has started, medication should be used. Cotton can be placed in the ear canal to detect the presence of discharge, but this should not constantly block the way to the discharge.
Drug Therapy : Drug therapy will mostly stop the ear discharge. Treatment requires intermittent cleaning of the ear, the use of drops or powders. Oral antibiotics should be used in certain people.
Surgical treatment : For many years, the main goal of chronic middle ear surgery has been to control inflammation and prevent the harmful effects that it can develop. Recently, methods have been developed to restore hearing as well.
Many tissues can be used to patch or reconstruct the eardrum. These tissues are like “the skin of the ear canal, the membrane covering the muscle on the ear, cartilage Nov. A damaged ear bone can be relocated, as well as a made bone can also be used. Sometimes cartilage can also be used instead of a melted ear bone.
Eardrum Repair (Myringoplasty) :
Most otitis media heal on their own, some also leave behind a perforated eardrum.
Eardrum repair protects the middle ear and sometimes improves hearing. This operation can be performed in people where there is no damage to the middle ear bones and the inflammation has dried up. The operation is performed through the external ear canal or behind the auricle. The tissues mentioned above are used to create an eardrum or make a patch. A person can return to work within seven to ten days. A full recovery will occur in about six weeks, and only at this time will it be understood how the operation affects hearing.
Middle Ear Repair (Tympanoplasty) :
Inflammation of the middle ear can also cause damage to the bones of the middle ear along with the eardrum. Tympanoplasty is the name given to the repair of both the eardrum and this ossicle chain. This operation allows the eardrum to be repaired and often hearing to be better as well.
The operation is performed from behind the auricle or from the outer ear canal. The middle ear ossicle chain is repaired by reshaping the ossicles or with other tissues, at the same time membrane repair is performed.
In some people, it is not possible to repair both the ossicular chain and the membrane at the same time. In this case, the eardrum is repaired first, and after four months or more, the ossicle repair is performed. This is called a “phased operation”.
The operation is performed under general anesthesia. A person can return to work within seven to ten days after the operation. Recovery is complete in about six weeks. The improvement in hearing may not be felt for several months.
Bone Behind the Ear (Mastoidectomy) and Middle Ear Repair (Tympanoplasty) :
Inflammation, in some people, causes the tissue in the outer ear canal to enter through the perforated eardrum and spread into the bones of the middle ear and behind the ear. If this occurs, a mass called a “cholesteatoma” forms, covered with skin. This mass gradually expands over the years and destroys the surrounding bone tissues.
If “cholesteatoma” is present, the ear discharge becomes more continuous and frequent, malodorous. In many patients, the cause of the constant discharge is chronic inflammation of the bone tissue surrounding the ear.
If a “cholesteatoma” or an inflammation has formed in the bone tissue, the chances of treating this disease with residual medication are very low. Anitibiotics taken by drip or by mouth provide healing only for a temporary period of time. After discontinuation of treatment, recurrence is frequent.
“Cholesteatoma” or chronic otitis media can remain so for years without causing a complaint other than uncomfortable discharge and hearing loss. However, it is more common for it to spread to the surrounding tissue by making local progress and pressure. If this happens, the patient often feels fullness and dull pain in the ear. Severe dizziness, weakness of the facial nerve or facial paralysis may develop. If any of these complaints develop, the patient should definitely be taken to surgical treatment. Surgery is necessary to eliminate inflammation and prevent serious complications that may develop.
If the “cholesteatoma” has caused significant damage to the ear bone, it may be difficult to surgically remove it. The operation is performed with an incision behind the ear. The main goal is to eliminate inflammation and get a dry, confident ear.
In about a third of patients with cholesteatoma, it is not possible to eliminate inflammation and restore hearing in a single operation. In the first operation, the inflammation can be eliminated and the eardrum repair can be performed. The patient can usually return to work after two weeks.
The second operation to restore hearing can be performed between six and twenty-four months later.
Middle Ear Repair (Tympanoplasty) and Back of Ear Bone (Mastoidectomy) Operation Repetition :
The purpose of this operation is to get rid of the discharge of the cavity formed as a result of the radical ear operation, fill the cavity and improve hearing.
The operation is performed behind the ear. The fat or November muscle behind the ear can be used to fill the mastoid cavity. If possible, ear bones, artificial bones, or cartilage can be used to repair the hearing mechanism, but another operation is usually required to restore hearing.
The operation is performed under general anesthesia. The patient can return to work two weeks after the operation. The improvement in hearing may not be felt for several months.
Radical Mastoid Operation :
The purpose of this operation is to eliminate otitis media, without taking into account hearing. The operation is performed in patients with very persistent otitis media. Initially, in patients who are considered suitable for middle ear repair, radical ear surgery may be required, although rarely. This decision should be made during the operation. A muscle transplant taken from behind the ear may also be necessary for November’s recovery to be smoother. The operation is performed under general anesthesia, the patient can usually return to work after two weeks.
Mastoid Obliteration (Filling) Operation :
The purpose of this operation is to dry out the inflammation in the mastoid and fill the gap that has already been created. Improvement in hearing is not taken into account.
The operation is performed with an incision behind the ear. To fill the mastoid cavity, November muscle or fat taken from behind the ear is used. The operation is performed under general anesthesia. The patient can return to work in two weeks.
Findings in Your Ear :
The findings in your ear will be explained to you by your doctor after examinations and examinations.
The result of this will be decided together what kind of operation is needed.
General Comments : If the surgery fails, hearing usually remains at the level before the operation. In three percent of the operated patients, there is a possibility that hearing will decrease even more. After the operation, rarely, for a while, there may be a runny ear, buzzing at first, a taste disorder or a state of dizziness. In less than one percent of patients, one percent may develop weakness. This is mostly a temporary complication.
If the operation is not performed at the moment, it is recommended to have your annual check-ups, especially for ear discharge, to come for examination immediately. If a dull pain develops in or around the ear, an increase in discharge, or a state of dizziness, you should contact your doctor immediately.