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Treatments and drugs
By Mayo Clinic staffMost perforated 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 may 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 more than once 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 may recommend surgery. The most common surgical procedure is called tympanoplasty. Your surgeon grafts a tiny patch of your own tissue to cover the hole in the eardrum. This procedure is done on an outpatient basis, meaning you can usually go home the same day unless medical conditions require a longer hospital stay.
References
- Perforated eardrum. American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery. http://www.entnet.org/HealthInformation/perforatedEardrum.cfm. Accessed Nov. 16, 2010.
- Evans AK, et al. Evaluation and management of middle ear trauma. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 16, 2010.
- Lustig LR, et al. Ear, nose and throat disorders. In: McPhee SJ, et al. Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment. 50th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies. 2011. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2436&searchStr=tympanic+membrane+perforation. Accessed Nov. 16, 2010.
- Vernick DM, et al. Ear barotrauma. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 16, 2010.
- Limb CJ, et al. Acute otitis media in adults (suppurative and serous). http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 16, 2010.
- Cholesteatoma. American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery. http://www.entnet.org/HealthInformation/cholesteatoma.cfm. Accessed Nov. 22, 2010.
- Yates PD, et al. Otitis media. In: Lalwani AK. Current Diagnosis and Treatment in Otolaryngology. 2nd ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies. 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2830509. Accessed Nov. 23, 2010.
- Shelby JH (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Nov. 28, 2010.
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