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Best and Latest Treatment for Ruptured Eardrum? Tympanoplasty Options?

Posted by pml888 @pml888, Jun 6 3:29pm

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for advice on treating a ruptured eardrum. Based on the size and appearance, I’d estimate the perforation covers around 60% of the eardrum.

I’m considering tympanoplasty but have some questions:
- What is considered the best and most effective treatment today for a ruptured eardrum that hasn’t healed on its own?
- Are there any newer, safer, or more advanced procedures that have become standard or are showing better outcomes?
- Is it better to use own tissue (like fascia) for the graft or something like porcine (pig skin) grafts?
- For the procedure itself, is endoscopic tympanoplasty better than the microscopic approach (which I understand may involve an incision behind the ear)?

I’d really appreciate any personal experiences, recommendations, or advice from those who’ve gone through this or know the current best practices.

Thanks so much!

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TMM | @tmragain | Jun 12 7:06am

I had approximately 40% perforation. I had tympanoplasty along with ossicular chain reconstruction. The surgeon repaired mine using a tragal perichondrium graft. The graft was harvested from my tragus. Surgeon also noted “small Cook bio graft was then placed lateral to the
perforation site.” I’ve also had 3 ear tubes since the perforation was repaired and it’s healed after each tube fell out. Good luck!

REPLY
1 reply
pml888 | @pml888 | Jun 14 6:25pm
In reply to @tmragain "I had approximately 40% perforation. I had tympanoplasty along with ossicular chain reconstruction. The surgeon repaired..." + (show)
@tmragain

I had approximately 40% perforation. I had tympanoplasty along with ossicular chain reconstruction. The surgeon repaired mine using a tragal perichondrium graft. The graft was harvested from my tragus. Surgeon also noted “small Cook bio graft was then placed lateral to the
perforation site.” I’ve also had 3 ear tubes since the perforation was repaired and it’s healed after each tube fell out. Good luck!

Jump to this post

Thank you so much for sharing your experience! I really appreciate it. If you don’t mind me asking, where did you have your surgery done and how did your recovery go, especially in terms of healing and hearing?

Was using your own tissue something your doctor recommended, or did you specifically ask for it instead of a synthetic graft? And with the Cook graft and ear tubes, was that something discussed ahead of time?

Really glad to hear you’re all better now. Appreciate you taking the time to reply!

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TMM | @tmragain | Jun 17 3:41am

My original surgery was in Burlington, Iowa by Dr Henrich. Because of other complications not having to do with my eardrum, I had 2 additional surgeries at the University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa. I don’t recall being given any options as far as tissue to repair the eardrum. I think any time you can use your own tissue graft is best.

The ear tubes were later on because of continued complications I’ve been having with a perilymph fistula. Had I not also fractured and dislocated my hearing bones, my recovery may have been much smoother. I knocked my balance system off with the initial penetrating injury and the fistula that developed didn’t help.

Had it just been a perforated eardrum, I probably would’ve held off on any surgery and given myself time to heal.

My Aunt perforated her eardrum and hers healed on its own, but took several weeks. Hope this helps!

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