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Treatments and drugs
By Mayo Clinic staffMost ruptured eardrums heal without treatment within a few weeks. If the tear or hole in your eardrum doesn't heal by itself, treatment will involve procedures to close the perforation. These may include:
- Eardrum patch. If the tear or hole in your eardrum doesn't close on its own, an ENT specialist may seal it with a paper patch. With this office procedure, your ENT will apply a chemical to the edges of the tear to stimulate growth and then apply a paper patch over the hole. The procedure may need to be repeated three or four times before the hole closes.
- Surgery. If a paper patch doesn't result in proper healing or your ENT determines that the tear isn't likely to heal with a patch, he or she will recommend surgery. The most common surgical procedure is called tympanoplasty. Your surgeon grafts a tiny patch of your own skin over the eardrum. This procedure is done on an outpatient basis, meaning you can go home the same day.
References
- Perforated eardrum. American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery. http://www.entnet.org/HealthInformation/perforatedEardrum.cfm. Accessed Jan. 3, 2009.
- O'Handley J, et al. Otorhinolaryngology. In: Rakel R, ed. Textbook of Family Medicine. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders/Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/115405234-5/0/1481/281.html?tocnode=53392988&fromURL=281.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2467-5..50027-0--cesec49_1202. Accessed Jan. 3, 2009.
- Mirza S, et al. Otic barotrauma from air travel. Journal of Laryngology and Otology. 2005;119:366-370.
- Ramakrishnan K, et al. Diagnosis and treatment of otitis media. American Family Physician. 2007;76:1650-1658.
- Staffel JG, et al. Hearing loss. In: Wax M, ed. Primary Care Otolaryngology. 2nd ed. Alexandria, Va.: American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery; 2005. http://www.entnet.org/EducationAndResearch/updload/Chapter-6-Hearing-Loss.pdf. Accessed Jan. 4, 2009.
